The Object

122
Arts #95

”The Object” podcast explores the surprising, true stories behind museum objects with wit and curiosity. An object’s view of us. Hosted by Tim Gihring, produced by the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Recent Episodes
  • The Ghost of Hokusai
    Apr 21, 2025 – 24:34
  • Encore episode: The Making of Monet
    Apr 7, 2025 – 28:46
  • Can You Hear Me Now?
    Mar 24, 2025 – 22:35
  • Encore episode: Yard Show: The World According to Joe
    Feb 28, 2025 – 25:48
  • Encore episode: Love Among the Ruins
    Feb 14, 2025 – 21:47
  • The Object LIVE! Manet Touché!
    Jan 30, 2025 – 29:18
  • Fly Me to the Sun: A Bonus New Year Episode
    Jan 16, 2025 – 14:50
  • Cold Comfort: The Ghosts of Winters Past
    Dec 23, 2024 – 24:34
  • Yes, We Can-Can: How the Moulin Rouge Made Us Modern
    Nov 25, 2024 – 26:58
  • Bonus episode: Talking Wanda Gág with Lizzi Ginsberg
    Nov 8, 2024 – 33:33
  • A Woman Called Wanda
    Oct 21, 2024 – 21:47
  • Finding Buddha: The Collector at the Top of the World
    Sep 30, 2024 – 28:48
  • Dog Days: What Our Pets Say About Us
    Sep 3, 2024 – 20:28
  • Endless Summer: Can You Really Leave it All Behind?
    Aug 5, 2024 – 22:26
  • For Queen and Country: The Woman who Won Paris
    Jul 11, 2024 – 28:19
  • American Illusion: The Wonderful Wizard of Iowa
    Jun 11, 2024 – 27:48
  • Encore episode: The Car that Killed
    May 31, 2024 – 11:11
  • Fire and Rain: The Dragons Next Door
    May 6, 2024 – 22:00
  • Yard Show: The World According to Joe
    Apr 8, 2024 – 24:56
  • Wait for It
    Mar 11, 2024 – 24:42
  • Encore episode: The O’Keeffe We Never Knew
    Mar 5, 2024 – 30:02
  • Bonus Episode: Dance Like Everyone’s Watching
    Feb 12, 2024 – 23:02
  • Encore episode: Secrets of the Veiled Lady
    Jan 15, 2024 – 24:12
  • American Epic: Looking for Ella Watson
    Dec 22, 2023 – 25:04
  • Give and Take: The Weird, Wonderful Art of the Gift
    Nov 27, 2023 – 25:42
  • Shooting Back: The Photographer Who Unvanished
    Oct 23, 2023 – 29:58
  • Goodbye, Columbus: Frida and Diego’s American Dream
    Sep 25, 2023 – 30:48
  • Water for Spirits: The Circus Star Who Became a Goddess
    Aug 28, 2023 – 22:32
  • Finding Fanny: The Model Who Disappeared
    Jul 31, 2023 – 29:52
  • Making Monet: The Invention of Genius
    Jul 3, 2023 – 27:20
  • Dangerous Liaisons: What Happened to the First Art Star?
    Jun 5, 2023 – 24:42
  • How to Break the World
    May 1, 2023 – 33:26
  • Revealing History: The Naked and the Nude
    Apr 3, 2023 – 27:02
  • Breaking Good: The Department of Missing Limbs
    Mar 6, 2023 – 23:30
  • Encore episode: The Black Musketeer: A Swashbuckling Tale of Race and Revenge
    Feb 27, 2023 – 26:27
  • Bonus episode: When a Kiss is Just a Kiss
    Feb 6, 2023 – 17:37
  • Do You Feel Lucky? A Bonus Episode for the New Year
    Jan 19, 2023 – 17:37
  • A Christmas Fable: The Sinner and the Saint
    Dec 19, 2022 – 28:52
  • Photographer of Fortune: The Man Who Shot America
    Nov 14, 2022 – 28:03
  • Ghost Ships Of Xu Fu
    Oct 10, 2022 – 22:53
  • Lost and Found: The Possibly True Story of America’s First Black Artist
    Sep 12, 2022 – 23:51
  • Seeing Ourselves in Animals: An Unnatural History
    Aug 8, 2022 – 26:46
  • Escape Velocity: The Woman Who Left the World
    Jul 11, 2022 – 26:23
  • How to Live Forever (or Die Trying)
    Jun 6, 2022 – 23:46
  • Black Musketeer: A Swashbuckling Tale of Race and Revenge
    May 9, 2022 – 26:27
  • Hiding in Plain Sight: The O’Keeffe We Never Knew
    Apr 11, 2022 – 30:02
  • King of Hills: The Mountain That Came to Dinner
    Mar 14, 2022 – 23:52
  • Life After Life: The Psychic Sculptor (encore episode)
    Mar 2, 2022 – 26:54
  • Young, Gifted, and Gone: The Woman Who Never Came Back (encore episode)
    Feb 14, 2022 – 16:44
  • Bonus Episode: Take This Job and Fauve It (and Other New Year’s Resolutions)
    Jan 17, 2022 – 20:02
Recent Reviews
  • LisaO30
    Excellent Podcast!!
    I love this podcast so much!! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pieces at Mia and the fascinating history and context behind each. I feel like I’m getting a little “tea” in each episode, as well. Love Tim’s intelligent and slightly gossipy (in the best way) vibe.
  • kkjjjo7
    Good content, but…
    There’s a lot to like about this podcast, but the unfortunate verbal tic of the narrator saying “Right” 12-15 times an episode is just too distracting.
  • MoSync
    Mesmerizing storytelling
    I absolutely love this podcast. Every episode is well written and the narrator’s voice and pacing makes listening quite enjoyable. The background information as well as the description of the art is so detailed I am able to picture it in my mind, but at the same time I’m drawn to seeing it in person. Well done!
  • CatK 2
    Fun & fascinating - a must listen!
    This is my favorite podcast among the many I listen to. They provide a brief glimpse into the lives of the artists, while providing a snippet of art history. Like a favorite book I enjoy listening to the episodes more than once. I hope I can get to the Minneapolis Institute of art sometime to see these pieces in person.
  • SusanaHM89
    A whole new perspective on art!
    I just discovered the podcast this morning and I am listening the episodes one after the other non-stop. I love the peculiar and fun approach to art, and the history behind it through its objects. In a way, it is also an exploration of our humanity. I simply love it! And I really enjoy how it is narrated!
  • pastorhh
    Sublime
    Sublime. Both the chosen object, and the prose used to unfold the object’s story. Pacing, vocabulary, narrative. Expertly handled, every time. Mia, keep this going, because those who visit the museum tend our imagination and appreciate its art even when not in the building. Thank you for your creative efforts, Tim.
  • ccmcmk2
    So rich!
    I’m learning so much and being inspired to think and consider and rethink. Keep these coming!
  • Ragtaghorde
    Wonderful podcast!
    This rapidly became one of my favorites. I learned so much . Even if you don’t like art this will change your mind, give it a try!
  • SwissMiss48
    Great podcast
    I just recently discovered this podcast and LOVE it. I have learned such interesting tidbits and facts behind art pieces! Fascinating! I listen to podcasts while I walk and this has become a favorite! Keep up the great job!
  • dgoss in Queens
    Easily the best podcasts in my queue
    Incredibly fascinating bites of art history delivered in a warm, humorous, and empathetic deadpan that sometimes elides the depth of knowledge and experience the host brings to the show every time. Highly recommended and I’d love it if this were a weekly thing!
  • MaryMug
    Needs editing
    Interesting content, but Gihring tends to over-dramatize and has an annoying voice. Can’t believe a museum staff member would mispronounce “Giverny.”
  • MinnetonkaSunshine
    Fascinating Stories
    This podcast is perfect for people who love art and stories about art. The writing is interesting and the narration is excellent. I always enjoy visits to Mia and this podcast has added another dimension to my excursions there. So fun to seek out one of the objects and listen again to the podcast about it.
  • Nelly C from MN
    Interesting and fun
    I really enjoy it! Host Tim Gihring is an excellent narrator, the stories are very interesting and fun. What a great way to learn about art and history!
  • Ridley...W
    The Secret Life of Art!
    Host Tim Gigring relates shocking and delectable details about artists, their lives and creations in a warm confidential tone that makes you catch your breath and lean forward as if he’s about to say something funny. I love his voice. My first and favorite episode is about The Three Musketeers, and I forwarded it to a bunch of people.
  • chylandpax
    And Look at This…
    Love this! It is so interesting to peek into the lives of artists and collectors. More please!
  • craigmische
    Goldilocks
    Not too long, not too short. Just right. And done well with plenty of interesting info. I am taking notes for my next visit to Mia to check out objects and art discussed in episodes.
  • namenick???
    Unique and interesting
    This fusion of history and art is one of the best things I’ve spent time on in the last year. I learn something new in every episode. And often laugh or gasp or both at what I’m learning. Bravo to the MIA!!
  • Jacq913
    Host needs to speak up
    Interesting material but the host trails off at the end of each sentence and I miss half of what he says! He needs to speak up.
  • scheißgeyser
    I mean … really good
    This pod never disappoints. Superbly told stories detailing elements of one of North America’s most interesting (and always free to the public) collections.
  • tla776
    Love it!
    Interesting, funny, & engaging. Absolutely love it.
  • CarrieB
    Glad I Found!
    Just randomly found this podcast and I love it! So educational and interesting. Narrator is great and easy to listen to!
  • Aug 31 2016
    Always interesting and informative
    One of my favorite art history podcasts! I look forward to new episodes. Extremely well done and informative.
  • KBMinneapolis
    Entertaining and Informative
    For anyone who loves history, art or a really good story. Fascinating background behind particular pieces of art in the MIA collection which sheds light on a wide range of artists and art movements throughout history. I have learned a great deal from listening to this excellent podcast.
  • The Keekses
    Absolutely Fascinating
    I absolutely love to visit the MIA. It's one of my favorite museums. This look at the history of their art is fascinating.
  • public historian
    A joy to listen to
    Playful, thoughtful and elegant, The Object always leaves me with a new appreciation for the stories behind the social and cultural history of art. A model for history podcasts.
  • VelvetEuphoria
    Great storytelling
    I so enjoy this podcast. The information and the way it’s presented brings these objects to life. My only complaint is that it’s such a long wait between episodes. More please!
  • BGHNOW
    Smart and thoughtful
    A window into the objects at Mia. Well researched, conversational with excellent production. Delighted to find it.
  • Vimes67
    Fantastic historical snapshots
    Love the show and the context it gives us for art we can see tomorrow, for free.
  • MelissaMarie7
    Reminds me of Lost Twin Cities PBS Series
    Fantastic podcast! I'm going to have to visit the museum once I catch up with all the episodes. This also reminds me of Sidedoor which is Smithsonian's podcast, but I like the local flavor of this one.
  • mplsgossipgirl
    What a fantastic podcast
    As an already huge fan of the Mia, I love hearing stories about the objects that live there. I hope other art fans discover this!
  • folyjun
    Fun and informative
    Fun and informative. Music maybe a little too loud and distracting.
  • loves narrative
    A must-listen
    Fans of art museums and history will love the surprising stories unearthed from the vaults of Mia — all told with plenty of suspense, wit, and style.
  • N. Stephan
    Fun fragments!
    Snippets of information about pieces of art, floating in an excerpt of history. I spent my college years in the anthropology building or digging in the dirt; my understanding of European history ends with the Roman Empire, and my knowledge of the art of the Americas has Mexico as its northern border. These episodes have a nice balance of content and context, so that even someone who doesn’t know the difference between modern and Modernism can come away enlightened!
  • Runread
    Love it!
    This podcast is like having a friend take you on a private tour of Mia that is both lighthearted and knowledgeable. Really fun podcast
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.