Award-winning podcast newest season launches March 16

March 16, 2026

Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art’s award-winning podcast The Object begins its eighth season on Monday, March 16. In 10 new episodes, the season tells stories of the almost famous, the nearly lost, and more surprising true tales behind objects at Mia.

Through seven seasons, The Object has pioneered a new way of talking and learning about art history. Written and hosted by Tim Gihring, a veteran journalist in Minneapolis, the show ranks among the top 20% of podcasts in listenership. Loved by listeners for its “beautifully written stories about art and life,” and noted by the New York Times as “carving out a place in national conversations” around art and culture, the show has become a model for museums seeking to engage art-lovers both inside and outside their walls.

This season, Mia is again hosting The Object LIVE! presented by Ameriprise Financial, a series of live tapings of the podcast at the museum. With music, interactive quizzes, special guests, and the storytelling audiences have come to expect, the show has brought the podcast’s playful take on art history to life with guests like Dessa and jeremy messersmith. Upcoming shows include “Talk Dürer to Me!” on May 21, about the virtuoso German master Albrecht Dürer.

“This season sheds a light on the vast canvas of human creativity, beyond the usual suspects,” says Gihring. “There are so many artists whose expressions made an impact in their time, but only a portion have filtered down to us. As the museum uncovers these unique perspectives, our world widens.”

Season eight opens with “The Other Monet,” about Claude Monet’s stepdaughter Blanche, who learned by his side and whose own exceptional paintings were nearly forgotten. A story of family, devotion, and the choices we make in life as in art.

The Object is made possible by generous support from Ameriprise Financial.

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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.

General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.

For more information, call  1-612-870-3000 or visit artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.