The Artidex is an artist-centered multimedia archive and creative network documenting contemporary artists through signed Polaroid portraiture, photography, documentary film, and conversation. Each participating artist becomes a numbered ENTRY within a growing physical archive that preserves not only their work, but the person, story, and moment behind it.

The Artidex Podcast extends that archive through long-form conversations, giving artists space to share their lives, creative journeys, and perspectives in their own voices. Through The Artidex Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, this work expands beyond documentation into direct artist support through grants, sponsorships, creative opportunities, and community investment.

For ENTRY #018, Gina sits down with makeup artist Leah Carmichael, whose work has helped shape the beauty and music industries for more than two decades. A former Global Makeup Artist for Kat Von D Beauty, Leah has worked across international beauty events, music videos, touring, and artist grooming, with credits connected to Beyoncé, Deftones, AFI, and Ceremony.

Having first connected online before traveling and working together in 2016, Gina and Leah reflect on their shared history, Leah’s lifelong commitment to makeup artistry, and the experiences that shaped her unmistakable creative identity. Their conversation explores technical mastery, individuality, beauty culture, authenticity, and what it means to build an enduring career without compromising who you are.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about creativity, independent artists, and the stories behind the work, subscribe and follow along as The Artidex documents, connects, and supports artists, one ENTRY at a time.

Follow The Artidex on Instagram: @theartidex • @ginafrey
Follow Leah Carmichael on Instagram: @iamleah

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ARTIDEX PODCAST — EPISODE 003 | ARTISTS 6-10

In Episode 003, Noah and I look back on Entries #006–010 of The Artidex.

We talk about each artist individually: how I met them, what first stood out to me, and why I believed in them long before many other people did. We reflect on the work they’re creating today, the careers they’ve built, and the qualities that make them exceptional beyond their talent.

As always, the conversation naturally wanders.

We end up talking about the difference between a career and an identity, why I’m no longer afraid of being “cringe” if it means creating something I believe in or acting authentically and how working in emergency medicine completely changed my perspective on fear, ambition, and what actually matters. Watching people experience the best and worst days of their lives has made one thing incredibly clear to me: life is finite. If there’s something meaningful you want to build, there is no perfect time. You just have to begin.

The Artidex exists to preserve artists at a moment in time. We are honoring not just what they’ve made, but who they were while making it. Every portrait is an entry into a growing physical archive, and every conversation reminds me why I started this project in the first place.

Thanks for following along as this archive continues to grow.

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The Artidex is a multimedia archive dedicated to documenting artists and creative individuals through signed Polaroid portraiture, long-form conversations, and short films. At its center is a growing physical binder archive, where every featured artist becomes a numbered ENTRY preserved like a rare collectible card. Inspired by the idea of collecting artists like rare Pokémon cards, each entry exists to preserve not only an artist's work, but the humanity behind it, creating a tangible record of creative lives as they unfold over time.

What began as a photography project has evolved into an expanding creative network built around discovery, collaboration, and cultural preservation. Today, that mission continues through The Artidex Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through grants, sponsorships, and other initiatives that help sustain creative work while preserving contemporary artistic culture for future generations.

For ENTRY 009, Gina sits down with artist, designer, and doll maker Joshua David McKenney, creator of Pidgin Doll and a longtime friend and collaborator. Together, they reflect on Joshua's artistic journey, the creation and evolution of Pidgin Doll, the formative years of their friendship, and the winding creative paths that have shaped their lives as artists. The conversation explores creativity, identity, artistic reinvention, and what it means to build a lasting body of work over time.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about creativity, independent artists, and the stories behind the work, subscribe and follow along as The Artidex continues collecting, preserving, and supporting artists, one ENTRY at a time.

Follow The Artidex
Instagram: @theartidex • @ginafrey

Follow Joshua David McKenney
Instagram: @joshuadavidmckenney
Pidgin Doll: @pidgindoll

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Welcome to Episode 001 of The Artidex Podcast.

The Artidex is a multimedia archive dedicated to documenting artists through signed Polaroid portraiture, long form conversations, and short films. Inspired by the idea of collecting artists like rare trading cards, every featured artist becomes a numbered ENTRY housed within a growing physical binder archive, a tangible collection designed to preserve not only creative work, but the people behind it.

In this first episode, we explore the origins of The Artidex by taking a closer look at Entries 001–005, discussing each artist, their work, and how the archive first began to take shape.

The episode also features an in-depth conversation with our co-Host, artist and producer Noah B, exploring his journey into music, the evolution of his sound, his creative philosophy, and the experiences that have shaped him as both an artist and collaborator.

As the archive has grown, so has its mission. What began as a photography project has evolved into The Artidex Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving contemporary creative culture while supporting artists through grants, sponsorships, and other initiatives that help sustain artistic work over time.

Whether you're interested in the artists themselves, the creative process, or the stories that shape creative identity, Episode 001 serves as an introduction to both the archive and the larger vision behind it.

Featured Artists

• Rachel Lynch (@ihateblonde)
https://ihateblonde.com

• Amber Strickland (@amby.strickland/@weepling)
https://weepling.com

• Mira Mariah (@girlknewyork)
https://studioknewyork.com

• Will Crooks (@willcrooksphoto)
https://willcrooksphoto.com

Thank you for supporting The Artidex.

Collecting • Preserving • Supporting

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The Artidex is a multimedia archive dedicated to documenting artists and creative individuals through signed Polaroid portraiture, long-form conversations, and short films. Inspired by the idea of collecting artists like rare Pokémon cards, every featured artist becomes a numbered ENTRY within a growing physical binder archive, preserving not only creative work, but the humanity behind the artist. Each portrait, signature, and conversation serves as a tangible record of a moment in contemporary creative culture.

What began as a photography project has since evolved into something much larger. The Artidex has become an expanding creative network built around discovery, collaboration, and cultural preservation, naturally forging connections between artists across disciplines while documenting their stories in real time.

That mission has continued to grow through the creation of The Artidex Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through grants, sponsorships, educational opportunities, and other initiatives designed to help sustain creative work for future generations. Together, the archive and the Foundation exist to both preserve artists and invest in their futures.

Episode 001 serves as an introduction to both the project and the vision behind it. Creator Gina Frey and co-host Noah B (ENTRY #004) discuss the origins of The Artidex, the philosophies that inspired its creation, the first artists to become part of the archive, and how a simple binder of signed Polaroids has grown into an evolving platform dedicated to collecting, preserving, and supporting artists.

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