The Specialist | From Canvas to Canon: Joan Mitchell’s King of Spades, with Courtney Kremers

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2026

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an episode of The Specialist, your weekly dose of wonder. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. On today’s episode, the female pioneer of abstract expressionism whose lyrical compositions came to reset market expectations. Courtney Kremers examines King of Spades, Joan Mitchell’s formative masterpiece, which signalled the convergence of her critical acclaim and market recognition. Courtney is Vice Chairman, Sotheby's New York, and oversees strategy for Private Sales across fine art categories, and advises major clients on acquisitions and consignments. ⁠⁠Further details about the episode subject⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:59.5	Welcome to Intelligence Squared where Great Minds meet. I'm head of programming Connor Boyle.
1:05.0	Today, something a little different, we're excited to share with you a handpicked episode of a brand new series,
1:10.6	The Specialist,
1:11.6	produced by Intelligence Squared, in partnership with Sotheby's. We've all heard the stories
1:16.4	of the record-breaking works, headline-grabbing auctions and moments that shock the art world
1:21.5	and beyond. But have you ever wondered what's happening behind the scenes? What goes into
1:26.4	valuing a masterpiece, or who the people are really behind the gavel.
1:30.1	The specialist brings you art's most extraordinary stories, told by the experts who witnessed them,
1:36.0	in short episodes, perfect for a weekend listen. Now, over to The Specialist.
1:41.2	I love the underdog nature of King of Spades. Certainly, it set a record at the time.
1:46.1	It was sold. It signaled the ascent of Mitchell as a serious artist. It had come up already twice
	...

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