This podcast episode from The Art Newspaper covers three distinct art stories. First, Tate Modern's new exhibition 'Nigerian Modernism' explores modern art beyond Western canons, featuring co-curator Osei Bonsu and artist Jimoh Buraimoh. Second, correspondent Sarvy Geranpayeh reports on Tehran's thriving art scene before and after the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. Third, the episode highlights 'Cakes' (1963) by Wayne Thiebaud, now on view at the Courtauld Gallery in London for the artist's first UK museum exhibition, with insights from co-curator Barnaby Wright.
These stories matter because they reflect key shifts in the art world: museums like Tate Modern are actively diversifying art history narratives, regional art scenes like Tehran's demonstrate resilience amid geopolitical conflict, and major retrospectives of iconic American artists continue to draw international audiences. Together, they illustrate how contemporary art institutions engage with global perspectives, political contexts, and canonical figures.