Art and Life – Sandy Nairne in Conversation with Roya Nikkhah

Joined in conversation by writer and Sunday Times correspondent, Roya Nikkhah, the pair explore poignant moments in Nairne’s career. From his time at the ICA in the 1980s, curating the first retrospective of controversial American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, to overseeing the choice of sculptures for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, to leading the pursuit of two stolen Turner paintings in the 1990s; Nairne has seen it all. He worked alongside Nicholas Serota to help to create Tate Modern, and later served as Director of the National Portrait Gallery, commissioning many new portraits, including the first painted portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge. The pair also discuss his current roles, which range from advising Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres to working with Sir Anish Kapoor to create a print to be sold for the charity’s benefit.