Artist Isaac Julien

This episode, we are honored to be joined by the incredible, Turner Prize-nominated artist and filmmaker, Isaac Julien.

Born in 1960 in London, Isaac is one of the leading artists working in film and video today. His 1989 film Looking for Langston garnered a cult following with this poetic exploration of Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance.

Over the past three decades he has made work using multi-screen installations to express fractured narratives exploring memory and desire. 

Earlier this year, he was commissioned by the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia to create a work to celebrate the museums’ centennial. Titled Once Again . . . (Statues Never Die), the immersive five-screen installation b explored the relationship between the museum’s founder, Dr. Albert C. Barnes, and the famed philosopher and cultural critic Alain Locke.

In even more exciting news, next year, Isaac will be the subject of a solo exhibition at London’s Tate Britain in April, presenting a survey of his work from the last 40 years. Isaac was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 and was knighted by the Queenin the 2022 for services to diversity and inclusion in art.

Some artists, curators, and actors discussed in this episode:

• Sankofa Film and Video Collective
• Maggie Cheung
• David Bowie and Marc Bolan
• Barry Jenkins
• Mark Nash
• James Franco
• Tilda Swinton

For images, artworks, and more behind the scenes goodness, follow @artfromtheoutsidepodcast on Instagram. Enjoy!