About Art

What makes a painting unforgettable? And how can art history become something that feels personal, clear, and alive?

In this episode of About Art, Heidi Zuckerman speaks with James Payne, writer, curator, educator, and the creator of the internationally beloved YouTube channels Great Art Explained and Great Books Explained.

James has reached millions by making art history accessible—stripping away intimidation while preserving depth, nuance, and emotional power. His videos have been shown at institutions including the National Gallery in London and the Albertina Museum in Vienna, and his mission continues to redefine what cultural education can look like in the digital age.

Together, Heidi and James discuss storytelling, accessibility, the emotional intelligence of art, and why understanding a work of art can be as thrilling as seeing it.

Elisa Nuyten is the founder and president of The Vega Foundation, a Toronto-based organization dedicated to supporting ambitious film and video art through commissioning, institutional collaboration, and long-term stewardship. Established in 2022, Vega has quickly become a significant force in the international moving-image ecosystem, partnering with leading museums and commissioning major new works by artists shaping the future of the medium.

In this conversation, Nuyten shares why she sees film as a powerful vehicle for awareness—one capable of holding complexity, ambiguity, and emotional depth without slipping into didacticism. She reflects on her evolution from collector to foundation founder, her appetite for artistic risk, and her belief that supporting experimental work is essential to cultural and social progress.

Together, Nuyten and Zuckerman explore how private foundations can operate as catalysts rather than gatekeepers, how to evaluate risk while remaining artist-centered, and why storytelling in moving-image art has a unique capacity to foster shared humanity. This episode offers a compelling model for collectors, arts leaders, and anyone interested in how bold artistic investment can expand what art—and philanthropy—can do.

What does it take to shape a brand that resonates with an entire generation? Brieane Olson, CEO of Pacsun, joins Heidi Zuckerman to discuss creativity, cultural relevance, and values-driven leadership at one of the most influential youth lifestyle retailers in the world.

From strategic partnerships with icons like A$AP Rocky and Kendall Jenner to a $5M investment in Inglewood schools, Brieane shares how she blends purpose with performance. With nearly two decades at Pacsun and a career spanning merchandising, marketing, and digital transformation, her approach is both bold and deeply human.

In this episode, Brieane and Heidi explore:
•The art of building authentic collaborations
•Why community investment isn’t a strategy, it’s a responsibility
•Leading with empathy, innovation, and intention
•What Gen Z and Gen Alpha expect from brands today—and how art plays a role

This conversation is about more than retail. It’s about culture, connection, and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Mike Zuckerman is a cultural strategist, city builder, and humanitarian activist whose work is rooted in one central idea: regeneration.
Mike has designed and activated community-centered spaces all over the world—from temporary refugee settlements in Uganda, to post-crisis recovery zones in Haiti and Colombia, to experimental urban projects in San Francisco. He thinks deeply about how to repair broken systems by placing trust and power back in the hands of local communities. We talk about how he moves between the art world, humanitarian work, and activism—and what he’s learned about design, dignity, and hope along the way. 
Mike is Heidi Zuckerman’s brother, and this is the last in her sibling series podcast.

Reinvention isn’t about starting over. It’s about listening—closely—to who you’re becoming.
In this episode of About Art, I speak with Lora Jakobsen about leadership before titles, creativity beyond the arts, and how community shapes both personal growth and professional impact. From her early background in the performing arts to her current work in climate tech at ZeroNorth, Lora’s journey is a powerful reminder that the skills we develop in one chapter often become the foundation for the next.
We talk about:
•Reinvention as an ongoing practice
• Why art should never feel intimidating
• Leadership rooted in presence, curiosity, and care
• The role of community in shaping meaningful work
• Creativity as a transferable life skill
This conversation is for anyone navigating change—and wondering what might be possible on the other side. Lora is Heidi Zuckerman’s sister.