Rephonic
Artwork for The Lonely Palette

The Lonely Palette

Tamar Avishai
Art History
Love
Annea Lockwood
Sound Maps
National Gallery Of Art
Environmental Sound Art
Civil Rights Movement
Grief
Lynching
Equal Justice Initiative
National Memorial For Peace and Justice
Cy Twombly
Silence
Racial Violence
Memorial Design
Gun Violence Memorial Project
Public Radio
Rivers
Freedom Of Speech
St. Augustine, Florida

Welcome to The Lonely Palette, the podcast that returns art history to the masses, one painting at a time. Each episode, host Tamar Avishai picks a painting du jour, interviews unsuspecting museum visitors in front of it, and then dives deeply into the object, the movement, the social context, and anything and everything else that will make it as neat to you as it is to her. For more information, ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes118Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArts

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Artwork for The Lonely Palette

Latest Episodes

"Art isn't what you see. It's what you help others see." - Edgar Degas | "Close your eyes/sometimes it helps." - Rhianna

A little over ten years ago, on May 4th, 2016, I swallowed hard and hit publish on my very first episode of The Lonely Palette. ... more

"The deeper you go, the less indulgent it will be.” - Helena's stickie note

Helena De Groot is an audio maker, but, really, she’s an audio artist. Her series, Creation Myth, just dropped in full as part of the CBC’s show, Personally. Personally is a... more

Earlier this year, I had a really, really great conversation with Dr. Lara Ayad, host of the podcast The Cheeky Scholar - and I'm proud to share it today. We cast our net really wide, talking at first about the role of artists in society, my favorite... more

It's September, and time to get back to work. That means defending public radio against federal defunding, exploring its core values, and taking an honest look at how we got here. 

I'm proud to share this conversation between my Hub & Spoke colleagu... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Julie Shapiro
Audio visionary, co-founder of Hub & Spoke; former executive producer at Radiotopia; collaborator at Third Coast Audio Festival and Audio Flux
Hub & Spoke, Radiotopia, Third Coast
Episode: Episode 71: Looking Back on 10 Years of The Lonely Palette (with Julie Shapiro)
Helena De Groot
Audio producer and sound artist, creator of Creation Myth
CBC Personally (Creation Myth)
Episode: TLP Interview with Helena De Groot, Audio Producer and Sound Artist
Judith Wechsler
Art historian, filmmaker, writer, and a leading expert on Paul Cezanne and Honoré Daumier.
Episode: TLP Interview with Judith Wechsler, Art Historian and Filmmaker
Rabbi Alan Setcher
An activist rabbi who participated in the civil rights movement in 1964
Episode: BonusEp. 18 - A TLP Announcement! And Introducing The Rabbis Go South
Bryan Stevenson
Founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, working to end inequality in the justice system.
Equal Justice Initiative
Episode: Ep. 66 - Bringing Monuments Home (from PRX's Monumental)
Shira Dedman
Filmmaker and great-granddaughter of a lynching victim, exploring ancestral memory and acknowledgment.
Episode: Ep. 66 - Bringing Monuments Home (from PRX's Monumental)
Clint Smith
Author and staff writer at The Atlantic, known for discussing memorialization and historical remembrance.
The Atlantic Magazine
Episode: Ep. 66 - Bringing Monuments Home (from PRX's Monumental)
Peter Cole
Co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project, focusing on racial violence history.
Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project
Episode: Ep. 66 - Bringing Monuments Home (from PRX's Monumental)
Franklin Cozy Gay
Co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project, involved in local historical initiatives.
Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project
Episode: Ep. 66 - Bringing Monuments Home (from PRX's Monumental)

Host

Tamar Avishai
Host of The Lonely Palette

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • Accessible and wonderful storytelling

    As promised in her tagline, Tamar really does bring art history to the masses and makes it accessible. I love how the episodes open with museum-goers describing the artwork they’re seeing. I’m a semi-professional self taught artist who has never touched art history before listening to the Lonely Palette, and I’ve learned so much listening to this podcast. It’s my favourite thing to paint to. Thank you for your work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Callia Silverton
    Canada25 days ago
  • Came to this late but it’s great

    Doesn’t really matter that it’s not having new episodes that much each one is a brilliant look at an artist. Not always the most famous painting. Often what is in Boston but she covers so much context that someone like me who has only seen art in Europe still

    Gets so much from it. The tone is great and you learn so much

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    owene73
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • I wish my college Art 100 had been like this

    Years ago I loved visiting museums and the art they contained but didn’t feel that warmth when I encountered art history, This podcast bridges the disconnect and is one of the most enjoyable I have encountered, Calming and refreshing—the opposite of a newscast. To probably misquote the host, Tamal Avishai: “reclaiming art history for

    the masses, one artwork at a time”!

    Added after 2026 10th anniversary episode—

    In response to the NPR and BBC sound doctors: I no longer listen to very much N... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greybird17
    United Statesa month ago
  • National Board Support

    She gives interesting, warm, thoughtful analysis of works of art, many of which I have not seen before. I am an Art teacher studying for component 1 of NBCT and it was been so helpful connecting the movements and getting me comfortable writing about Art! The podcast makes me want to learn more about Art history both historical and contemporary!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Samlerchpen
    United States3 months ago
  • Love this pod!

    I am so delighted to have found this pod. What a jewel!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    riversiderider
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Clear, thoughtful articulation of art history that stays accessible to non-experts
Guests and episode formats are consistently engaging and educational
Listeners praise the host's warmth and storytelling quality
Strong emphasis on making museum art approachable and human

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#193
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#43
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#24
Australia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#24
Italy/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

TLP Interview with Helena De Groot, Audio Producer and Sound Artist
Q: How do you balance being personal with making a show that others can relate to?
By leaning into hyper-specific memories and moments, and using sound to bridge the gap between the intimate and the universal, while collaborating with editors to avoid overexposure.
In Plain Sight - Ep. 3: "Go Deeper"
Q: Why modernism?
Harry Cooper explains that modernism resonates with contemporary issues, making it relatable to today's experiences, even if the works are a hundred years old.
In Plain Sight - Ep. 2: "Listen Closer"
Q: What makes that painting less valuable?
The original piece holds historical significance and craftsmanship that the copy lacks, even though they depict the same subject.
TLP Interview with Annea Lockwood, Artist and Composer
Q: How do you think in your work, somebody's kind of whole physicality is going to be affected by the sounds that you make, or the sounds that you record?
I think any listener's whole physicality is worked on by the sounds she or he is experiencing. You can be more or less aware of this, but they're working on your body anyway.
TLP Interview with Annea Lockwood, Artist and Composer
Q: Could I ask you just to start, actually, by introducing yourself and how you introduce yourself? How do you describe yourself?
I'm Annea Lockwood. I'm a composer. I have been all my life with a particular interest in sounds from the environment and our relationship to the environment, but not exclusively that.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Lonely Palette

What is The Lonely Palette about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers art history by pairing accessible storytelling with first-hand museum encounters. Each episode typically features a painting of the day, interviews with museum visitors in front of it, and a deep dive into the artwork's context, movements, and social backdrop. Across episodes, listeners get thoughtful analyses, human-centered narration, and connections between artworks and broader cultural conversations, often blending education with engaging storytelling that appeals to both art enthusiasts and newcomers. The format's strengths lie in its approachable pace, museum partnerships, and a clear emphasis on making art history feel alive and personal, not distant or academic.

A standout trait is the consistent focus on how peop... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Lonely Palette?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lonely Palette:

1. The Modern Art Notes Podcast
2. The Week in Art
3. A brush with...
4. Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast
5. The Art Angle

How many episodes of The Lonely Palette are there?

The Lonely Palette launched 10 years ago and published 118 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Lonely Palette?

Recent guests on The Lonely Palette include:

1. Julie Shapiro
2. Helena De Groot
3. Judith Wechsler
4. Rabbi Alan Setcher
5. Bryan Stevenson
6. Shira Dedman
7. Clint Smith
8. Peter Cole

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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