Art Damaged is a podcast exploring the methods and meanings of art’s destruction.
Drawing on more than a decade of research, the series examines real-world cases in which works of art have been attacked, altered, damaged, or destroyed, presenting these incidents not merely as curiosities or acts of vandalism, but as moments that reveal how artworks move through the world - and how their paths reflect the environments, audiences, and ideologies that surround them.
Across fifteen episodes, the series traces what might be described as a “shadow history” of art: a longstanding but often overlooked lineage of events that spans centuries, continents, and cultures - and is still unfolding today. Each episode combines storytelling, historical research, and cultural analysis to explore the circumstances behind these moments of turbulence and consider what they reveal about art’s enduring role in public life.
Episode 1: Introduction
Join host Christopher Schreck as he explores true-life stories of artworks being altered, defaced, damaged, and destroyed, with motivations ranging from the personal to the political, accidental to artistic and beyond.
Episode 2: Iconoclasm
For as long as images have embodied power, people have sought to destroy them. From ancient Egypt to the modern avant-garde and contemporary social movements, this episode traces the long (and ongoing) history of iconoclasm and what it reveals about art’s role in shaping authority, collective memory, and cultural change.