Ilex Press snaps up second book from ‘Talk Art’ podcast hosts Tovey and Diament

Ilex Press, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, has acquired Talk Art: The Interviews by actor and collector Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament.

Alison Starling, publisher, acquired world rights in all languages from Paul Stevens at Independent Talent. The book will be published on 11th May 2023.

The publisher says that with their “Talk Art” podcast, Tovey and Diament have “opened the doors to the contemporary art world”.

Featuring exclusive interviews with leading artists, musicians, writers, actors and gallerists, it continues, “Talk Art” has “established itself as the must-listen cultural podcast” and garnered more than five million downloads since its launch in 2018.

The pair’s first book, Talk Art: Everything you wanted to know about contemporary art but were afraid to ask (also published by Ilex), was a Sunday Times bestseller on its release in 2021.

The synopsis reads that Talk Art: The Interviews “gathers 24 of the most profound, interesting, moving, funny and informative moments from the popular ‘Talk Art’ podcast. These curated excerpts explore the inspirations, art experiences and favourite artists of a fascinating range of creative people from Grayson Perry to Elton John, Tracey Emin to Paul Smith, and from Wolfgang Tillmans to Sonia Boyce, accompanied by images of the artworks that have influenced them”.

Tovey and Diament said of the acquisition: “For our second book we wanted to delve deeper into the psyche of why art matters to millions of people around the world. This carefully curated selection of conversations, with some of the world’s leading creative forces, highlights how necessary art is, especially at a turbulent political time worldwide, for our survival, to lift spirits and to inspire meaningful change.”

Starling commented: “We’re proud and delighted to be working with Russell and Robert of ‘Talk Art’ on their much-anticipated second book. Their ability to make art accessible and hugely enjoyable to all translates just as well in book form as it does in their podcast and the conversations in the book – whether with Stephen Fry or Laurie Anderson, Chila Kumari Burman or Jerry Saltz – offer a joyous celebration of contemporary art in all its many forms.”