We all move through the same world, but we don’t all notice the same things. In this episode, Danielle speaks with visual artist Daniel Arsham about what it actually means to pay attention, and how refining that skill can shape not just your worldview, but your creativity and success. From choosing to live inside a 90-square-foot space in his own studio to building a global career spanning art, fashion, and design, Arsham’s life is a case study in the art of perception. Today, his work sits at the intersection of culture and luxury, collaborating with brands like Dior, Porsche, Tiffany & Co., and Pokémon, with sculptures that sell for millions and exhibitions that draw thousands across multiple continents. This conversation goes beyond aesthetics and into something deeper: how we train ourselves to notice, what we filter out, and how those choices quietly shape what we create, a philosophy he explores further in his new memoir, Future Relic. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Daniel’s take on the art of noticing, and how photography first taught him that a camera is not just for documenting the world, but for framing a personal way of seeing it.
The idea behind failure as a creative necessity.
Why Daniel says success often comes down to being willing to fail longer than most people are comfortable with.
How his humble beginnings at his Greenpoint studio became a key lesson in his career.
Why Daniel wanted his memoir Future Relic to focus so heavily on process, detours, and setbacks
What Daniel considers his clearest public failure, and why most creative disappointments matter far less than they feel like they do in the moment.
The story of Daniel building a full-scale cardboard replica of Emmanuel Perrotin’s gallery inside his studio as a way of pitching himself.
The changing value of handmade work in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world
Daniel’s take on taste, which he says is developed through exposure, travel, and experience, not something you are simply born with.
Follow Daniel on Instagram and make sure to check out his book Future Relic
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