Marina Abramović built her career by testing the limits of the body. Now, she’s testing what digital art can do. On this episode of The Artsy Podcast, the groundbreaking performance artist joins us for a conversation about launching her new NFT project, bringing mindfulness to the digital realm, and using her work to reach across generational divides.

Plus, Artsy editors Casey Lesser and Arun Kakar break down everything you need to know about Frieze Week in New York—a period packed with art fairs, gallery openings, and can’t-miss museum shows.

About our guest:

Marina Abramović is perhaps the most famous performance artist working today. Employing duration, pain, danger, exhaustion, and viewer participation, she works at extremes and complicates the relationship between art and audience. Abramović exhibited at Documenta in 1977, 1982, and 1992 and at the Venice Biennale in 1976 and 1997, when she was awarded the Golden Lion. In her famous 2010 Museum of Modern Art retrospective, “The Artist Is Present,” visitors sat across from Abramović in silent communion. More recently, she became the first woman artist to stage a solo exhibition in the Royal Academy’s main galleries in the institution’s 255-year history. Abramović is the founder of the Marina Abramović Institute, which promotes performance art globally.

Key topics: NFTs, digital art, performance art, the future of museums, advice for young artists, Frieze New York

Fairs and exhibitions mentioned:

• Frieze New York: May 7th–11th at The Shed
• TEFAF New York: May 9th–13th at Park Avenue Armory
• NADA New York: May 7th–11th at the Starrett-Lehigh Building
• Future Fair: May 7th–10th at Chelsea Industrial
• 1-54 New York: May 8th–11th at Halo
• Esther II: May 6th–10th at the Estonian House
• Michael Armitage, “Crucible” at David Zwirner: opening May 8th
• Antonia Showering, “In Line” at Timothy Taylor: opening May 8th
• Élise Peroi, “For Thirsting Flowers” at Carvalho Park: through May 23rd
• The Frick Collection
• Jack Whitten, “The Messenger” at MoMA: through August 2nd

Related reading:

The Legacy of Marina Abramović’s “The Artist Is Present” Lives On with New Generations of Artists

How Digital Art Has Fared Since the NFT Boom

In 1971, Linda Nochlin’s groundbreaking essay “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” posed a provocative question about the role of gender in art history. Today, we know that there have been great women artists across time and cultures—but, too often, their greatness isn’t recognized by the art market.

Art historian Katy Hessel visits The Artsy Podcast for a special Women’s History Month episode to discuss the importance of talking about women’s representation in the art world, the progress that has been made towards gender parity, and the contemporary women artists she’s watching now.

Plus, Artsy editors Casey Lesser and Arun Kakar discuss the month’s art news, including the scene at TEFAF, developments in AI artwork, and standout exhibitions in London, Austin, and Hong Kong.

Katy Hessel is an art historian, curator, broadcaster, and author of The Story of Art without Men, a Sunday Times and New York Times Best Seller. Her upcoming book How to Live an Artful Life is out in November.

Key topics:

• Gender equality in the art world
• Contemporary women artists
• How to start collecting art

Related reading:

5 Outstanding Artworks at TEFAF Maastricht 2025

11 Must-See Shows during Art Basel Hong Kong

Why AI Art Is Winning over Young Collectors

These 5 Women-Led Galleries Are Championing Overlooked Women Artists

Christina Kimeze’s Freewheeling Paintings Capture the Joy of Rollerskating

Follow the artists mentioned in the Artsy app:

• Tenant of Culture
• Noah Davis
• Alice Neel
• Käthe Kollwitz
• Guerilla Girls
• Mickalene Thomas
• Hilma af Klint
• Julie Mehretu
• Sarah Sze
• Katharina Grosse
• Jenny Saville
• Howardena Pindell
• Flora Yukhnovich
• Antonia Showering
• Kate Dunn
• Somaya Critchlow
• Ella Walker
• Charlotte Edey
• Sahara Longe
• Christina Kimeze
• Michaela Yearwood-Dan
• Anne Rothenstein
• Pauline Boty
• Jake Grewal
• Simone Kennedy Doig
• Mary Stephenson
• Caroline Walker
• Chantal Joffe
• Louise Bourgeois