To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

In this very special episode, Sami and Zahra record for the first time ever with a live audience — and the energy is as chaotic, wholesome, and hilarious as you’d imagine. From CERN to stolen masterpieces, from Da Vinci’s mind-blowing inventions to unexpected guest appearances, this episode is a full cross-disciplinary adventure.

And just when you think you know where the story is going… a brand-new guest steps in with a mystery involving a missing artwork and a very famous Renaissance master.

Get ready — this one is a ride.

• Zahra shares the surprising link between physics, engineering, and some of the most iconic artworks ever created.

• Why CERN might secretly be one of the most artistic places on Earth.

• Sami tells the story of a painting that resurfaced 80 years later out of nowhere and in the weirdest way possible .

• A stolen-art mystery delivered by a surprise guest — featuring Da Vinci, the Medici… and a piece that may still be hidden somewhere today.

• A lollipop cameo (yes, really).

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

In this episode, Zahra takes us on an unexpected journey to what she calls the happiest place on earth — and spoiler: it’s nowhere near Disneyland. From particle accelerators to mind-bending artist residencies, she opens a door into a world where science and creativity collide in the most surprising ways.

Then Sami shifts gears and brings us back to the streets of Paris for the 100-year anniversary of a movement we all think we know… until we realize we don’t. Dramatic entrances, glamorous lines, and a story that all begins with one very peculiar exhibition.

Are you ready to see physics and design with completely new eyes? Let’s dive in.

• Zahra reveals the unexpected reason CERN might actually be the real happiest place on earth

• A behind-the-scenes look at Arts at CERN — the artist residency program nobody sees coming

• The strange, futuristic artworks hiding in plain sight on CERN’s campus

• How physics secretly shapes everything from your steps to your favorite masterpieces

• Sami unpacks the (surprisingly messy) origin story of Art Deco

• Why 1925 Paris hosted one of the most influential exhibitions of the century

• The visual codes that define Art Deco — from speed lines to ships, subways, and sleek geometry

• A poster so iconic it becomes the symbol of early Art Deco glamour

• The Arts at CERN program

• The giant CERN statue with formulas

• Black Quantum Futurism

• A.M. Cassandre’s Normandie ocean liner poster

• The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industrielles Modernes

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

Show Notes:

In this episode, the two art virgins take on two big topics: Sami breaks down the six mistakes beginner collectors fall into, while Zahra reveals a discovery that completely changed how she sees accessing and living with art. An episode filled with surprises, confessions, and a few “wait… WHAT?” moments.

Are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!

• The six mistakes new collectors definitely make — and how to avoid them.

• The unexpected history behind Artothèques (and what Berlin has to do with it)

• Why patience, comparison, and provenance matter more than you think

• The real cost of collecting (and the hidden ones we forget)

• A list of art libraries to explore (shared on Instagram)

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode's Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

In this episode, the Art Virgins continue their journey through the David Hockney 25 exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, exploring the past 25 years of the legendary artist's life and work.

Are you ready to dive in? Let's go!

• Gallery 4: Yorkshire Returns (1997-2013) – A mind-bending painting that literally changes as you move
• The Purple Period – Vibrant landscapes and the technical mastery behind 50-canvas paintings
• Hockney's Innovation – Technology meets traditional painting in unexpected ways
• Portraits and Flowers (2000-2025) – Intimate glimpses of the artist's inner circle
• The Normandy Years (2019-2023) – A message of hope during dark times
• The Moon Room – Where Hockney abandons the sun for something more mysterious
• The Opera Sets Room – An immersive finale you won't want to miss
• The Poster Scandal – When Paris said "non" to an iconic image
• Lessons Learned – Essential exhibition survival tips (learned the hard way!)

• Exhibition: David Hockney 25 at Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

Show Notes:

The Art Virgins hit the road again — this time to Paris — to discover David Hockney 25, the artist’s biggest exhibition ever, designed by the man himself.

From train mishaps to hidden mosaics, and from laughter in the streets to awe inside the Fondation Louis Vuitton, this first part captures the anticipation and first impressions before diving deep into Hockney’s world.

Highlights:

• Lessons learned in trip planning (and what not to forget before an exhibition)

• A spontaneous early-morning hunt for Invader art in Paris

• First impressions of David Hockney 25 at Fondation Louis Vuitton

• How Hockney turned an exhibition into an opera

• Frame it, Fling it, Forget it: the early years of Hockney’s art spark debate and surprise

What we promised:

• Exhibition: David Hockney 25 at Fondation Louis Vuitton

• Artists mentioned: Invader, David Hockney

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.

Show Notes:

It’s la rentrée — and the Art Virgins are back with fresh stories, unexpected studies, and a touch of scandal. From artistic obsessions to surprising discoveries, this episode takes you from Matisse’s studio in Nice to a sweet design story you’ll never see the same way again.

Highlights:

• Why September feels like a new year in France

• A study that might change how you think about happiness

• The continuation of Zahra’s Matisse deep dive — and the moment that changed everything

• A creative twist born from scissors, love, and reinvention

• A sweet reveal that links a pop icon to one of the greatest surrealists

What we promised:

• Matisse’s Blue Nudes series

• The Pink Nude, Woman in Blue, and Le Bonheur de vivre

• A design collaboration you definitely didn’t see coming

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our instagram: @artvirgins.

Show Notes:

In this episode the three peas in a pod continue their visit to the “Banksy: a (R) evolution” in the city of Toulon in the South of France.

Are you ready to hit the road? Let’s go!

Highlights:

• A debrief of the exhibition one gallery at a time
• We share and debate (and judge!) on our individual Frame it, Fling it and Forget it
• Fresh takes from our “super virgin” guest co-host.

What we promised:

• Exhibition: Banksy: une (R)evolution
• Artists mentioned: Nevercrew ; Blu ; Raul ; Ozmo ;Banksy ; Bigtato