A Life Curated

I called Cora up the other day to discuss something unrelated to the podcast and it quickly became very clear to me that she would be the perfect guest.  I’m thrilled I asked her – after recounting some of her truly art popping experiences growing up as the daughter of Bruno Bischofberger (including making a painting with Jean Michel Basquiat) Cora delivers a 360 degree MASTERCLASS on the jewellery business from designing, creating, selling, promotion and gives an honest and frank insight into running a successful jewellery brand. Celebrating her 20th year in business this year, we discuss Cora's anniversary book, 'Cora Sheibani Jewels' as well as much, much more. Download, it’s an absolute masterpiece. @corasheibani@alifecuratedProduced by @martinlumsdenCover photo by Andrew Testa

Find out what Robin’s first art memory was, what was the first art work he bought, the three rules he sticks too when art dealing, the hands on training his legendary father Daniel Katz taught him, which artists he loves and hangs in his home, who owned the home prior, and then there’s his incredible passion for the music…….tune into this enthralling episode and enhance your life.This episode is kindly sponsored by @monsieur_dandy, your next tailor for your new handmade suit.

This episode of a Life Curated is kindly sponsored by Minka Jewels - @minkajewelsFor the fifth episode of A Life Curated, I sit down with the world authority on jewellery history, FT journalist and curator, Vivienne Becker.In this charming conversation, Vivienne tells me about how she started in the antique markets of Notting Hill, her big break by a photocopying machine, making fish fingers for her daughter when Madeleine Albright called, what she looks for in an emerging jeweller, what she loves and laments about the jewellery world, how JAR changed the industry,her deep passion for Lalique, why history and design are crucial to jewellery making, the latest trends and much, much more!

I’m delighted to be joined on the fourth episode of A Life Curated by internationally renowned minimalist architect John Pawson.Born in Halifax and schooled at Eton, John spent time working for his family’s textile business before leaving for Japan in his mid-twenties, spending the final year in Tokyo where he visited the studio of Shira Kuramata, who was to be a huge influence on his career.Inspired by the minimalistic aesthetic he had witnessed, and after a few pit stops around the world, including a dalliance with Liza Minelli in Australia and an attempt at becoming a monk, upon his return to the UK he enrolled at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, leaving in 1981 to set up his own practice.Although private houses have remained at the core of his practice, John’s projects have been wide ranging including the Lake Crossing bridge at Kew Gardens, hotels for Aby Rosen, a flagship store for Calvin Klein, projects for Ian Schrager, Bruce Chatwin, Karl Lagerfeld, a Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, The Jaffa hotel in Israel, and in 2016 John designed the new Design Museum in London. Most recently John also designed the Claridge’s Artspace Gallery.A recipient of a long list of awards, including a CBE in 2019 for services to design and architecture, John has also been published several times, including a foray into cook books, John’s latest book ‘Making Life Simpler ’published by Phaidon was released last month.John is also an avid photographer, his photos being exhibited at 180 Strand in June 2022, as part of a ‘A Shade of Pale’ exhibition, the largest exhibition of photos per acreage ever exhibited.Recorded from John’s office in King’s Cross, my name is Nolan Browne, I’m an art advisor with a podcast, this is A Life Curated.

I'm thrilled to have sat down with mega dealer and collector Ivor Braka.Having studied at Oxford then at Sotheby’s, at aged 24 , Ivor got his first taste of the art world when he worked for Andras Kalman at Crane Kalman gallery in Knightsbridge.With funding from his father and installed in a flat in Pont St, he then plunged into Wyndham Lewis drawings, Rossetti, JW Waterhouse, Mondrian and Ben Nicholson.Having got into Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Frank Auerbach way before others did, it was in 1989 when he was introduced to a Swedish collector Bo Alveryd that Ivor’s big break came. A Francis Bacon self portrait he had bought for $2m was subsequently sold for $4.2m. Ivor was set.Dealing also in Paula Rego, Pablo Picasso, and Tracey Emin, by 2001, when Francis Bacon prices began their mountainous climb, from $5 million to $86 million, Ivor had been in the Bacon market for decades. Often called a visionary, Ivor attributes some of his success to going against convention and not necessarily following the market, discovering great pictures and subsequently achieving multiple record prices along the way.Splitting his time between London and Norfolk, Ivor operates independently, without an army of directors, assistants and white walls, offering a highly-private dealership serving the world’s biggest collectors.Recorded from Ivor’s home in Chelsea, my name is Nolan Browne, I’m an art advisor with a podcast this is A Life Curated

After my blockbuster first guest, I'm thrilled to have sat down for the second episode of A Life Curated. with the worlds greatest fashion artist and Claridge’s artist in residence , DAVID DOWNTON.It’s often written that David has single handedly revived interest in fashion portraiture bringing the golden age of illustration to the 21st century with his classically elegant, yet highly contemporary images all executed in his distinct sweeping style.In 1996 David got his big break when he was sent to draw the Paris Couture starting with unparalleled access to Valentino and Versace at the Ritz. Since then he hasn’t looked back and counts Chanel, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, Fenwick, Harrods, Tiffany and the V & A amongst his clients.David’s portraits of the worlds most iconic women include Laura Bailey, Iman, Dita von Teese, Erin O'connor, Gillian Anderson, Catherine Deneuve and Jasmine Guinness and his work routinely appears in the The New York Times, Vogue, V Magazine, Harpers Bazaar and most recently Vanity Fair.In this 55 minute odyssey and recorded from his suite at Claridge’s, David and I discuss his inspiration in the early years, how he navigates the personalities in the fashion world, opening that invisible door from a commercial illustrator to the high octane world he now inhabits, tells us the key ingredients of how he made it, the process of a life drawing and if Warhol had Marilyn, Sargeant has Madame X, who is his favourite subject?Put the lead on the dog, whip on that coat or lie back on the sofa, just remember to plug me in and turn up the volume for this fabulous episode.Thank you to DD for being such a brilliant guest and an all around class act.Produced by Martin Lumsden