Mike Silva: The Incidental Moment

Mike Silva joins Victoria Comstock-Kershaw for this episode of the brave podcast, recorded in his studio as he prepares for an upcoming exhibition in Copenhagen. Working primarily in painting, Silva reflects on his shift away from traditional portraiture towards more incidental, intimate moments, where light, memory, and observation take precedence over representation. Using photography as a starting point, he describes painting as a process of translation shaped by intuition, touch, and the act of looking. The conversation also touches on vulnerability in his work, the influence of analogue culture, and the balance between spontaneity and control in his process. Reflecting on his career, Silva speaks candidly about navigating the art world, from being dropped by a gallery to rediscovering visibility through social media, as well as the changing conditions of image-making today.