Hot Take / Art Break: Why the Art World's Tech-Phobia Is Burning Us Out (video podcast)
This week, I'm tackling a question that might make some people uncomfortable: Why does the art world resist technology?
We celebrate experimentation and boundary-pushing in artistic practice, but when it comes to the everyday operations of galleries, institutions, and artist support systems, we're still relying on workflows that haven't meaningfully changed in decades. From unpaid interns spending entire days resizing JPEGs and searching through disorganized folders, to galleries operating at the edge of capacity because basic administrative tasks consume all available time, the operational stagnation is real, and it's burning people out.
In this episode, I explore why the resistance exists (spoiler: it's cultural, not technical), what the consequences are for artists, gallerists, and emerging professionals, and why adopting technology isn't about replacing human expertise. Instead, it's about making the art world livable. I'm not talking about AI-generated art or NFT speculation. I'm talking about digital archives, CRM systems, and tools that free up mental space for the work that actually matters: thinking, researching, curating, and connecting.
It's time we stopped treating exhaustion as a badge of honor and started asking: What could the art world look like if we worked smarter, not just harder?
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ABOUT THE HOST:
I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.
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This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/
COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com and Luca Laurence www.lucalaurence.com
Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein