The Artist in Conversation:
A Salon with Michael David
What does it mean to build and sustain a life in art? How does an artist develop a distinct visual language, navigate uncertainty, and remain open to new possibilities over the course of a lifetime? And what role do conversation, community, and critical exchange play in the development of an artistic practice?
Led by artist, curator, and Yellow Chair Salon founder Michael David, The Artist in Conversation is an intimate salon exploring the complexities of artistic practice and the ideas, relationships, and experiences that shape a life in art.
Yellow Chair Salon grew out of informal gatherings at David’s Life On Mars gallery, where artists, writers, curators, collectors, and friends came together for extended conversations about art and creative life. What began as an organic gathering evolved into an international artist community and an educational platform dedicated to critical dialogue, mentorship, and artistic development. The salon continues this founding tradition, creating a space where conversation is not separate from the work, but an essential part of its evolution.
Across eight sessions, participants will examine the challenges and possibilities of sustaining an artistic practice, developing a critical relationship to their own work, engaging with the work of others, and navigating the broader art world. Through group discussion, individual presentations, and close looking, artists will be encouraged to question assumptions, reconsider familiar approaches, and identify new directions for their work.
Rather than prescribing a particular aesthetic or offering predetermined answers, David will draw on his experience to encourage independent thinking, rigorous looking, and meaningful exchange. The salon is intended for artists who want to deepen their engagement with their work, expand their perspectives, and participate in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be an artist today.
At its heart, The Artist in Conversation reflects the founding philosophy of Yellow Chair Salon: that while making art is often a solitary pursuit, artistic growth is enriched by the company, insight, and generosity of others.
Drawing on decades of experience as an artist, gallerist, curator, and mentor, David brings a perspective informed by both the solitary nature of making art and the dynamic relationships that emerge when artists come together to look, think, question, and exchange ideas.
Course Structure
The salon meets for eight sessions, each organized around a central question concerning artistic practice, critical dialogue, and the life of an artist. Sessions will combine discussion led by Michael David with participant presentations and group exchange.
Session 1 — The Life of an Artist
What does it mean to sustain an artistic practice over time? An opening conversation about the questions, commitments, uncertainties, and discoveries that shape an artist’s life.
Session 2 — Developing a Visual Language
How does a body of work acquire its own identity? Examining the relationship between intuition, intention, process, and the gradual development of an individual visual language.
Session 3 — Looking and Seeing
Moving beyond description and intention to consider what a work actually does. Developing a more precise and meaningful way of looking at, discussing, and evaluating art.
Session 4 — Influence and Independence
Considering the artists, ideas, and histories that inform our work. How do we recognize the influence of others while developing an independent voice?
Session 5 — Risk, Uncertainty, and Change
Every artistic practice encounters moments of uncertainty. How do artists recognize when a work or approach has reached an impasse, and when is it necessary to take a risk, abandon an idea, or begin again?
Session 6 — The Artist and the Art World
Drawing on David’s experience as an artist, gallerist, and curator, this session considers the relationship between artistic ambition and the structures through which art is exhibited, discussed, collected, and understood.
Session 7 — Building a Body of Work
Looking at individual works in relation to one another. Identifying recurring concerns, productive contradictions, and possibilities for future development.
Session 8 — Continuing the Conversation
A concluding exchange focused on the questions that remain open, the directions each artist wants to pursue, and the importance of maintaining a critical and engaged relationship with one’s practice.
Who Should Apply?
This salon is intended for emerging, mid-career, and established artists working across disciplines who are interested in deepening their understanding of their work and engaging in thoughtful, sustained conversation with other artists.
Participants should be prepared to share their work, contribute to group discussions, and approach the work of others with curiosity, openness, and critical generosity.
Tuition: $1500 https://buy.stripe.com/8x2cN6bc403b3Vbdit8Ra1i
About Michael David
Michael David is an artist, curator, and the founder of Yellow Chair Salon. His artistic career, which began in 1981, has been accompanied by an ongoing commitment to creating spaces for artistic exchange and professional development. His experience encompasses studio practice, gallery direction, curatorial projects, and mentorship.
Yellow Chair Salon grew from his belief in the importance of conversation and community to the development of an artistic practice. What began as informal gatherings around art became an international community offering salons, symposia, mentorship, and collaborative learning opportunities.
Through Yellow Chair Salon, David continues to bring artists together to examine their work, exchange ideas, and develop the critical relationships that sustain a life in art.