Courtesy of Ben Luke
Writer and broadcaster Ben Luke joins TCG’s founding Director Katrina Brown for a conversation focused on his book, ‘What is art for?’
‘What is art for?’ comprises 25 illustrated conversations from Luke’s podcast ‘A brush with…’, which has been running since 2020 and explores the influences, rituals and disciplines of artists working today through in-depth interviews.
About the speaker /
Ben Luke is a critic and broadcaster. He hosts the podcasts ‘A brush with…’ and ‘The Week in Art’ for The Art Newspaper, where he is also a contributing editor and columnist. From 2009 to 2024 he was an art critic at the London Evening Standard. He is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. Ben has contributed to books on artists as diverse as Phyllida Barlow, Mark Dion, Matthew Krishanu and Christian Marclay. He was selected in the Critics’ Critics section of Artforum’s Best of 2024 issue. Ben’s book, ‘What is art for? Contemporary artists on their influences’, inspirations and disciplines, featuring 25 interviews from the A brush with… series along with new texts, was published in 2025 by HENI.
Event Details
Thursday 26 February 2026, 6–8pm.
Tickets
Free. Booking required as spaces are limited.
Access
This event takes place in the library and event space on the ground floor and the exhibition spaces on the second floor of 5 Florence Street.
The building has step free access and a lift to the second floor.
Accessible toilets are available.
The nearest subway station is Bridge Street, a 14 minute walk away.