To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode's Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In this episode, Zahra returns to Vienna's Lower Belvedere for a quieter, more intimate visit — this time with just her cousin and an Impressionism exhibition that changes the game. Between the artwork, she discovers the story of a collector couple, and their decades-long journey teaches her three lessons she won't forget.
Meanwhile, Sami picks up a €2 magnet in Prague and falls completely in love. The artist? Alphonse Mucha — a name he'd never heard before. What starts as admiration for beautiful posters becomes a three-act journey through Parisian fame, Czech nationalism, and a tragic ending that connects to today's world in ways neither host expected.
Art collecting wisdom, cultural resistance, and one very emotional moment.
Highlights:
The Lower Belvedere — smaller, calmer, better for art virgins
Three lessons from collectors who lived at the time of Matisse and Renoir
How Alphonse Mucha became an overnight sensation in 1894 Paris
From commercial success to The Slav Epic — Mucha's dramatic shift
Women as messengers of nationalism and cultural identity
Why this Czech artist's story resonates with modern Iran

Episode 14 – Picasso's Guernica & Klimt's The Kiss: Two Masterpieces, Two Cities
To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In this episode, Sami continues his visit to Madrid’s Reina Sofía Museum and finally comes face to face with Picasso’s Guernica — a painting he thought he knew, but absolutely didn’t. What starts as disappointment quickly turns into one of the most powerful art revelations of the podcast so far.
Meanwhile, Zahra takes us to a snow-covered Vienna at Christmas, where museum strategies, the Belvedere Palace, and a long-awaited encounter with Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss unfold — crowds, chaos, elbowing included. Along the way, we revisit the Three Fs, discover why context changes everything, and learn how expectations can betray us… or be completely redeemed.
Heavy history, golden masterpieces, and one very emotional art virgin moment.
Highlights:
Visiting the Reina Sofía Museum with “new art eyes”
The 1937 World Expo and the political face-off of its pavilions
How Guernica went from “ugly and confusing” to unforgettable
Why context matters more than beauty in art
Vienna under snow and the magic (and stress) of museum crowds
The Belvedere Palace as the world’s first public museum
Playing the Three Fs with a nine-year-old art critic
First impressions — and second thoughts — in front of The Kiss
What we promised:
Picasso’s Guernica
The Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid)
The 1937 Paris World Expo and the Spanish Pavilion
Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss
The Belvedere Palace (Upper & Lower)
Egon Schiele’s works

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In the final episode of 2025, Sami and Zahra close the year by sharing two very different — but deeply connected — art journeys.
Zahra prepares for a Christmas trip to Vienna, following a trail that leads straight to Gustav Klimt, his contradictions, and the questions that make his work endlessly fascinating. From famous masterpieces to lesser-known tensions beneath the gold, she unpacks why Klimt is never just one thing.
Meanwhile, Sami takes us to Madrid and into the Reina Sofía Museum, where a carefully prepared visit turns into a series of surprising realizations — about Cubism, repetition, posters, text in art, and why some museums suddenly click. Along the way, a simple game transforms a museum visit into something unexpectedly joyful.
A reflective, curiosity-filled episode to wrap up the year — about learning to see, preparing to look, and letting art slowly reveal itself.
Highlights:
Preparing for Vienna through the lens of Gustav Klimt
Why Klimt can be both iconic and misunderstood
The idea of artistic contradiction — fame, feminism, modernity
How preparation can completely change a museum experience
A first encounter with Reina Sofía and its “anchor” artwork
Discovering personal taste through posters, text, and typography
Cubism explained through repetition, cafés, and everyday objects
Why art movements might be closer to scientific experiments than pure chaos
What we promised:
Gustav Klimt and The Kiss
Museo Reina Sofía (Madrid)
Cubism: guitars, newspapers, pipes, wine bottles
Cassandre’s Normandie poster
ChatGPT Prompt for preparing for a museum visit to Copy/Paste: 
"MUSEUM VISIT PREPARATION PROMPT
I'm planning to visit [MUSEUM NAME] in [CITY] on [DATE/TIME if known]. Please help me prepare a complete visit strategy including:
LOGISTICS & PRACTICALITIES
Opening hours, best days/times to visit (crowd levels)
Ticket prices, advance booking requirements, any free admission days
Getting there: address, nearest metro/transport, parking options
Accessibility features, coat check, bag policies, photography rules
On-site amenities: café/restaurant quality, gift shop, rest areas
MUSEUM-SPECIFIC RULES & ETIQUETTE
What's allowed/prohibited (bags, food, photos, touching exhibits)
Any special security requirements or restricted areas
Dress code if applicable
Children policies if relevant
STRATEGIC VISIT PLAN
Recommended visit duration for my pace
Must-see highlights ranked by priority (top 10-15 pieces/exhibits)
Optimal route through the museum to avoid backtracking
Which sections/wings to prioritize vs. skip if time-limited
When crowds concentrate and how to avoid them
Less-known gems worth seeking out
EXHIBITION CONTEXT
Current temporary exhibitions worth seeing
Key permanent collection strengths
Brief historical context of the museum itself
Any audio guides, apps, or tours recommended
PREPARATION READING
2-3 specific artworks/artifacts to research beforehand
Essential background knowledge that enhances the visit
Any thematic connections to look for
PRACTICAL TIPS
Where to start for maximum impact
Best spots for breaks/reflection
Common visitor mistakes to avoid
Photography opportunities (if allowed)
Please tailor this to [my interests/constraints: e.g., "I love Impressionism but have limited mobility" or "traveling with kids" or "only have 2 hours"]."

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In this very special episode, Sami and Zahra record for the first time ever with a live audience — and the energy is as chaotic, wholesome, and hilarious as you’d imagine.From CERN to stolen masterpieces, from Da Vinci’s mind-blowing inventions to unexpected guest appearances, this episode is a full cross-disciplinary adventure.
And just when you think you know where the story is going… a brand-new guest steps in with a mystery involving a missing artwork and a very famous Renaissance master.
Get ready — this one is a ride.
Highlights:
Zahra shares the surprising link between physics, engineering, and some of the most iconic artworks ever created.
Why CERN might secretly be one of the most artistic places on Earth.
Sami tells the story of a painting that resurfaced 80 years later out of nowhere and in the weirdest way possible .
A stolen-art mystery delivered by a surprise guest — featuring Da Vinci, the Medici… and a piece that may still be hidden somewhere today.
A lollipop cameo (yes, really).

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In this episode, Zahra takes us on an unexpected journey to what she calls the happiest place on earth — and spoiler: it’s nowhere near Disneyland. From particle accelerators to mind-bending artist residencies, she opens a door into a world where science and creativity collide in the most surprising ways.
Then Sami shifts gears and brings us back to the streets of Paris for the 100-year anniversary of a movement we all think we know… until we realize we don’t. Dramatic entrances, glamorous lines, and a story that all begins with one very peculiar exhibition.
Are you ready to see physics and design with completely new eyes? Let’s dive in.
Highlights:
Zahra reveals the unexpected reason CERN might actually be the real happiest place on earth
A behind-the-scenes look at Arts at CERN — the artist residency program nobody sees coming
The strange, futuristic artworks hiding in plain sight on CERN’s campus
How physics secretly shapes everything from your steps to your favorite masterpieces
Sami unpacks the (surprisingly messy) origin story of Art Deco
Why 1925 Paris hosted one of the most influential exhibitions of the century
The visual codes that define Art Deco — from speed lines to ships, subways, and sleek geometry
A poster so iconic it becomes the symbol of early Art Deco glamour
What we promised:
The Arts at CERN program
The giant CERN statue with formulas
Black Quantum Futurism
A.M. Cassandre’s Normandie ocean liner poster
The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industrielles Modernes

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
 
Show Notes:
In this episode, the two art virgins take on two big topics: Sami breaks down the six mistakes beginner collectors fall into, while Zahra reveals a discovery that completely changed how she sees accessing and living with art. An episode filled with surprises, confessions, and a few “wait… WHAT?” moments.
Are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Highlights:
The six mistakes new collectors definitely make — and how to avoid them.
The unexpected history behind Artothèques (and what Berlin has to do with it)
Why patience, comparison, and provenance matter more than you think
The real cost of collecting (and the hidden ones we forget)
What we promised:
A list of art libraries to explore (shared on Instagram)

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode's Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
In this episode, the Art Virgins continue their journey through the David Hockney 25 exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, exploring the past 25 years of the legendary artist's life and work.
Are you ready to dive in? Let's go!
Highlights:
Gallery 4: Yorkshire Returns (1997-2013) – A mind-bending painting that literally changes as you move
The Purple Period – Vibrant landscapes and the technical mastery behind 50-canvas paintings
Hockney's Innovation – Technology meets traditional painting in unexpected ways
Portraits and Flowers (2000-2025) – Intimate glimpses of the artist's inner circle
The Normandy Years (2019-2023) – A message of hope during dark times
The Moon Room – Where Hockney abandons the sun for something more mysterious
The Opera Sets Room – An immersive finale you won't want to miss
The Poster Scandal – When Paris said "non" to an iconic image
Lessons Learned – Essential exhibition survival tips (learned the hard way!)
What We Promised:
Exhibition: David Hockney 25 at Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris

To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our Instagram: @artvirgins.
Show Notes:
The Art Virgins hit the road again — this time to Paris — to discover David Hockney 25, the artist’s biggest exhibition ever, designed by the man himself.
From train mishaps to hidden mosaics, and from laughter in the streets to awe inside the Fondation Louis Vuitton, this first part captures the anticipation and first impressions before diving deep into Hockney’s world.
Highlights:
Lessons learned in trip planning (and what not to forget before an exhibition)
A spontaneous early-morning hunt for Invader art in Paris
First impressions of David Hockney 25 at Fondation Louis Vuitton
How Hockney turned an exhibition into an opera
Frame it, Fling it, Forget it: the early years of Hockney’s art spark debate and surprise
What we promised:
Exhibition: David Hockney 25 at Fondation Louis Vuitton
Artists mentioned: Invader, David Hockney