Canvas & Controversy

This podcast explores the most controversial, provocative, and game-changing artworks throughout history. Each episode dives into a different piece, artist, and movement that sparked scandal, outrage, and deep cultural debates.

Canvas & Controversy is hosted by Kayla Lubold, researcher of the arts and student of USC. This podcast uploads on a weekly schedule, posting every Friday. The podcast is edited by Logan Ruiter, Assistant Podcast Coordinator for Garnet Media Group. Music Created by Logan Ruiter. 

Canvas & Controversy is part of the Garnet Media Group Podcast Network. Find more student-produced podcasts and other student work on garnetmedia.org and @garnetmediagroup on Instagram.

Season 1 (2025)

Episode 6: The Urn Frozen in Time

For many people, history is something that needs to be preserved, but is this always the case? When confronted with an interesting dilemma of historical importance and cultural change, the Controversial Team debates on if the destruction of a historical artifact was justified. 

Episode 5: Sugar Sphinx

This Episode, the controversial team discusses the truly massive artwork made of sugar. Known for its creation to represent themes of dignity, history, and exploitation, what conclusion will the team settle on?

Episode 4: Shredded

This episode, a graffiti artist sends a rather…shredded artwork to an auction, causing outrage and leading the artist to garner quite a famous reputation. Join the controversial team as they discuss the performance of an artist's calculated last stroke of their brush.

Episode 3: A Crude Nude

This episode, Kayla and Logan, left to unwrap the first of its kind, a painting made in earlier history standing as the first push towards normalizing crude, genuine nudity. People must have loved that, right? 

Episode 2: Is it Blasphemy?

In this episode, the Controversial Team handles an aggressively controversial topic. The first of many topics to leave the team speechless. While Logan and Erin dispute the very… yellow... photo, Kayla confesses her obsession with stealing… bibles!?

Episode 1: Funky Fountain 

For this episode, Kayla, Logan, and Erin lose their marbles as they chant notorious song lyrics during their first artwork discussion. The artwork of discussion today is...Urinals? From horrible singing to questionable opinions, the Controversial Team investigates one very funky fountain.

Pilot Episode: Meet the Controversial Team

The very first episode of the podcast introduces Kayla, Logan, and Erin as members of the Controversial Team! Explore the personal aspects of each member as they display their good, bad, and ugly jokes for your mediocre enjoyment! Between which color pencils are better, and Erin's affiliation with a popular sandwich chain, join the Canvas Team as they talk about their controversial conundrums.