Curious about
their work,
not the moment.
Leila Antakly has spent over twenty years in conversation with artists, musicians, designers, filmmakers, and thinkers all over the world who are making work that matters. These are the conversations.
Interviews from the Archive
Explore all our conversations
Paula Mendoza: The Colombian Jewelry Alchemist Lighting Up New York
Paula Mendoza was a journalist before she was a goldsmith. One course changed everything: Jewelry as Sculpture, at Washington's Corcoran School of the Arts. A pilgrimage through Peru's ancient filigree workshops did the rest. Today her pieces are worn by Beyonce, Zendaya, and Sarah Jessica Parker, her artisans in Bogota have worked with her for over a decade, and her wedding in 2026 had a dress code of all black, a lineup of five DJs from Burning Man, and a theme called Rave Royale. She is, as Leila says, something special.
Visual Artist and Filmmaker Stella Scott
I met Stella Scott in Cambodia — on location, in action, completely in her element. Central Saint Martins. BBC Film. The Spice World Tour. She centres emotional realism in everything she makes, drawing out performances that feel discovered rather than directed. This is her story.
“Visibility has never been our measure of significance. We seek out artists and inspiring individuals whose work sparks curiosity, challenges assumptions, and leaves a lasting impression.”
Every project, image, and story is about framing a series of questions that are deeply important to me as a human being.- Shirin Neshat