Art Problems

Artist William Powhida and Netvvrk Operations Director Penny Retica join me to discuss the 2026 Whitney Biennial, curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer. We walk through the show's major themes—human-animal relationships, infrastructure, economic critique, and the handmade.  

Our conversation explores the possibilities brought forward by the biennial. Does it represent a search for art’s utility in a moment of uncertainty? Is its focus on feeling over confrontation, a curatorial choice or a broader retreat? What are the consequences of omitting collaborative work and art showcasing decentralized resistance? 

Like all good conversations, this one doesn't offer easy answers. We examine what the biennial reveals about the current moment, and in a time that feels directionless, that critical work can feel grounding.

Guests: William Powhida, artist Penny Retica, Netvvrk operations director

Additional Reading:

Ben Davis, The Whitney Biennial Just Wants you to Feel Something, Artnet, 2026 

Aruna D’Souza, The Polycrisis Sublime of the Whitney Biennial, Hyperallergic, 2026

Jenny Wu, Whitney Biennial 2026 Review: The Revolution Will Be Cute, Art Review, 2026

Anna Kornbluh, Immediacy, or The Style of Too Late Capitalism

Art Problems Podcast, Episode 85: What is Killing the New York Art Fairs, Part 2

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What does it feel like to work professionally as an artist for 23 years but still feel like you're treading water?

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Boston-based artist Yuko Oda about joining Netvvrk just over a year ago after graduating from RISD in 2002 and spending two decades feeling confused about her trajectory. She was saying yes to everything, spreading herself too thin, and missing opportunities she should have seized—like a group show in Tokyo where she wasn't happy with the work she submitted.

In just over a year, Yuko sold her first major piece directly to a collector, secured a three-piece commission for a downtown Boston high-rise, exhibited work in Rome that she calls her best art experience ever, and learned to set boundaries that protect her momentum. We talk about overcoming hesitation to invest in yourself, how accountability groups helped navigate everything from invoices to artist-consultant contract splits, and what it feels like to finally know where you are on your career path instead of floating like a bubble.

Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST Register here. 

Yuko Oda: Website: https://www.yukooda.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukooda75

Education:

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): https://www.risd.edu

Institutions Mentioned:

UMass Lowell: https://www.uml.edu

Harvard Entomology Club: https://hmnh.harvard.edu

New York Institute of Technology: https://www.nyit.edu

Grants & Programs:

Guggenheim Fellowship: https://www.gf.org

Artists Mentioned (Commission Advice):

Laura Fayer: https://www.laurafayer.com/

Adria Arch: https://www.adriaarch.com/

John Laustsen: https://www.jonlaustsen.com/

Mary Lynn Burke: https://www.marylynnburke.com/

Kristin Cronic: https://www.kristinraecronic.com/

Kristi Kun https://www.kristykun.com/

What does it take to level up your documentation and grant applications when you're deeply insecure about your writing?

 

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Bay Area artist Kimberlee Koym-Murteira about joining Netvvrk three years ago, knowing she needed support to win more grants. She'd seen firsthand that when she had help, she was successful—but she didn't know how to get that consistently. Through constant feedback, mentorship from members, and building relationships in accountability groups, Kimberlee transformed her applications so dramatically that she won many and went from avoiding certain opportunities to applying for the Guggenheim.

 

This conversation breaks down what it looks like to use a creative community—getting feedback within hours when you need it, why AI tools help but can't replace human editors, and how focusing on your own path instead of competing locally creates sustained hopefulness even when six major galleries in your region close. If you've ever wondered what the practical day-to-day of career growth looks like, the details are all in this podcast.

 

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST. Register here.

Kimberlee Koym-Murteira:
Website: https://www.kimberleekm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberleekm/

Tools & Resources Mentioned:

Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com

Bay Area Context:

California College of the Arts (CCA): https://www.cca.edu

What does it feel like to return to your art practice after a 25-year break?

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with visual artist Shae Nadine about navigating an art world that had completely transformed in her absence. When Shae joined Netvvrk two years ago, she was figuring out basics like digital documentation and artist statements. But through accountability groups and community support, she went from feeling lost to landing a NYSCA grant, a SuCasa residency, and curating a four-month public art exhibition in Chicago.

This conversation gets into the unglamorous parts of building an art career—like why Shae's accountability group toasts their rejections, how to know when you're actually ready to apply for major grants, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your relationship is stop asking your partner to read your artist statement. If you've ever felt like an outsider in the art world, I recommend listening to Shae’s story.

 

Links:

Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST Register here.

Shae Nadine || SubtleFlux: Website, Instagram

Grants & Programs Mentioned:

NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts): https://arts.ny.gov

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): https://lmcc.net

Sukasa Grant: https://www.skowhegan.org/sukasa

Manhattan Graphics Center: https://www.manhattangraphicscenter.org

Pollack-Krasner Foundation: https://pkf.org

Guggenheim Fellowship: https://www.gf.org

Resources:

Powerhouse Arts (mentioned in episode): https://powerhousearts.org

Westbeth Artists Housing: https://westbeth.org

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information out there to help artists? In this episode of Art Problems Netvvrk member Maggie Hinders shares how the Netvvrk Navigator assessment transformed her artistic experience of this reality from "I can't do this" to "I can do this."

Maggie talks about moving from using Netvvrk primarily for community connection to finally tackling the curriculum with clarity. We discuss how the assessment organizes information into a clear path forward, why understanding what different career levels actually look like matters, and how developing an artistic narrative helps you communicate about abstract work.

If you've ever felt like your brain works like a web and you need help pulling out that first thread, this conversation is for you.