This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation with artist Suzanne Jackson, who discusses her multifaceted career spanning drawing, painting, poetry, dance, and theatre. Born in 1944 in St. Louis and raised in San Francisco and Fairbanks, Alaska, Jackson draws on Native American and African American traditions to explore the spiritual connection between people and nature. She reflects on influences including Barbara Chase Riboud, Elizabeth Catlett, and Torkwase Dyson, and shares insights into her studio practice and her view on art's purpose. The episode also highlights her current survey exhibition "What is Love," which travels to SFMOMA, the Walker Art Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston through 2027.
The episode matters because it offers a rare, intimate portrait of an artist whose work bridges personal history, ecology, and community engagement, while also acknowledging her roles as a gallery owner and public art administrator. Jackson's practice, which now includes installations addressing the climate crisis, represents a vital intersection of visual art, social activism, and spiritual inquiry. The podcast, sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, also underscores the growing trend of museums using digital platforms to deepen audience engagement with exhibitions and collections.