What happens when art becomes a vehicle for hidden knowledge, spirit communication, and alternative forms of spirituality? In this livestream interview on Angela’s Symposium, I am joined by Dr Nina Kokkinen to explore the fascinating intersections of art, esotericism, occultism, mediumship, and spiritual seekership.
We will discuss how esoteric ideas have shaped modern and contemporary art, why women’s contributions to occult and spiritual art have so often been overlooked, and how concepts such as occulture and seekership can help us understand artists whose religious and spiritual lives crossed conventional boundaries. We will also explore questions of mediumship, clairvoyance, artistic agency, and what happens when museums exhibit works that were originally understood as spiritually active or inspired.
Nina Kokkinen (PhD, 2019) is an art historian, scholar of religion, curator, and award-winning non-fiction author specialising in the intersections of modern and contemporary art with esotericism, occultism, and alternative spiritualities. Her research has contributed to scholarly discussions of concepts including occulture and seekership, while her curatorial work has explored how academic research can be translated into exhibitions and public engagement.
Her exhibitions include Arcana Borealis: Northern Women, Art and Esotericism (2026) at the Finnish National Gallery’s Ateneum Art Museum, and Aleksandra Ionowa: Visions of the Spirit World and Peace (2025) at the Gallen-Kallela Museum. From 2021 to 2024 she served as Editor-in-Chief of TaHiTi: Journal of the Society for Art History in Finland, and she is a member of the Advisory Board of Brill’s Aries Book Series: Texts and Studies in Western Esotericism. She also serves on the Scientific and Organising Committees of ESSWE 11: Alternative Epistemologies, to be held in Turku in 2027.
Join us for an academically grounded exploration of occult art, women’s esoteric networks, mediumship, spiritual creativity, and the often invisible histories behind some of modern art’s most intriguing works.
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BECOME MY PATRON! https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
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RECOMMENDED READINGS
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(Check the related slide on screen)
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️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ️
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!
00:00:00 Introduction: Occult Art and Western Esotericism
00:01:55 Dr Nina Kokkinen: Research on Finnish Esoteric Artists
00:06:18 Why Museums Are Rediscovering Esoteric Art
00:09:53 Forgotten Women Artists and the 1986 Spiritual in Art Exhibition
00:14:04 Misogyny and Gender Bias in Art Criticism
00:16:10 The Witching of Art History: Challenging the Canon
00:18:17 Research Methods, Archives and Mediumistic Art
00:23:04 Women Occultists, Intellectual Authority and Magical Practice
00:29:01 What Makes Art Esoteric? Symbols, Vision and Intent
00:32:06 Mediumship and Women’s Artistic Agency
00:37:01 Male Mediumistic Artists and Gendered Labels
00:38:41 Aleksandra Ionowa, Theosophical Masters and the Higher Self
00:42:33 Hysteria, Genius and Gendered Judgements
00:45:13 Aleksandra Ionowa’s Soul Flowers and Spiritual Art
00:52:38 Thought-Forms, Theosophy and Abstract Art
00:59:30 Can Making Art Be a Magical Practice?
01:02:50 Exhibition, Book and Further Resources
01:05:25 Closing Remarks and Support Angela’s Symposium
01:06:08 Explore a magical universe – drangelapuca.com
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5768951004397568
Published on October 12, 2026
What happens when art becomes a vehicle for hidden knowledge, spirit communication, and alternative forms of spirituality? In this livestream interview on Angela’s Symposium, I am joined by Dr Nina Kokkinen to explore the fascinating intersections of art, esotericism, occultism, mediumship, and spiritual seekership.
We will discuss how esoteric ideas have shaped modern and contemporary art, why women’s contributions to occult and spiritual art have so often been overlooked, and how concepts such as occulture and seekership can help us understand artists whose religious and spiritual lives crossed conventional boundaries. We will also explore questions of mediumship, clairvoyance, artistic agency, and what happens when museums exhibit works that were originally understood as spiritually active or inspired.
Nina Kokkinen (PhD, 2019) is an art historian, scholar of religion, curator, and award-winning non-fiction author specialising in the intersections of modern and contemporary art with esotericism, occultism, and alternative spiritualities. Her research has contributed to scholarly discussions of concepts including occulture and seekership, while her curatorial work has explored how academic research can be translated into exhibitions and public engagement.
Her exhibitions include Arcana Borealis: Northern Women, Art and Esotericism (2026) at the Finnish National Gallery’s Ateneum Art Museum, and Aleksandra Ionowa: Visions of the Spirit World and Peace (2025) at the Gallen-Kallela Museum. From 2021 to 2024 she served as Editor-in-Chief of TaHiTi: Journal of the Society for Art History in Finland, and she is a member of the Advisory Board of Brill’s Aries Book Series: Texts and Studies in Western Esotericism. She also serves on the Scientific and Organising Committees of ESSWE 11: Alternative Epistemologies, to be held in Turku in 2027.
Join us for an academically grounded exploration of occult art, women’s esoteric networks, mediumship, spiritual creativity, and the often invisible histories behind some of modern art’s most intriguing works.
CONNECT & SUPPORT
BECOME MY PATRON! https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
MY COURSES https://drangelapuca.com/courses
WEBSITE https://www.drangelapuca.com/
BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE https://drangelapuca.com/services
SUBSTACK ️ https://substack.com/@drangelapuca
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca
ONE-OFF DONATIONS https://paypal.me/angelasymposium
JOIN MEMBERSHIPS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join
MY PODCAST https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86
MY MERCH https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/
FOLLOW ME
– YouTube (@drangelapuca)
– SUBSTACK https://substack.com/@drangelapuca
– Instagram (@drangelapuca)
– TikTok (@drangelapuca)
– Twitter (@angelapuca11)
– Facebook (Dr Angela Puca)
RECOMMENDED READINGS
REFERENCES
(Check the related slide on screen)
MY SET-UP ️
– Canon 90D camera https://amzn.to/3yQclh0
– Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS
– Teleprompter ️ https://amzn.to/3linWCB
– Shure SM7B Microphone ️ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK
– Microphone stand https://amzn.to/3FueJOn
– Lights https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1
– DJI Wireless microphones https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ
️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ️
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!
00:00:00 Introduction: Occult Art and Western Esotericism
00:01:55 Dr Nina Kokkinen: Research on Finnish Esoteric Artists
00:06:18 Why Museums Are Rediscovering Esoteric Art
00:09:53 Forgotten Women Artists and the 1986 Spiritual in Art Exhibition
00:14:04 Misogyny and Gender Bias in Art Criticism
00:16:10 The Witching of Art History: Challenging the Canon
00:18:17 Research Methods, Archives and Mediumistic Art
00:23:04 Women Occultists, Intellectual Authority and Magical Practice
00:29:01 What Makes Art Esoteric? Symbols, Vision and Intent
00:32:06 Mediumship and Women’s Artistic Agency
00:37:01 Male Mediumistic Artists and Gendered Labels
00:38:41 Aleksandra Ionowa, Theosophical Masters and the Higher Self
00:42:33 Hysteria, Genius and Gendered Judgements
00:45:13 Aleksandra Ionowa’s Soul Flowers and Spiritual Art
00:52:38 Thought-Forms, Theosophy and Abstract Art
00:59:30 Can Making Art Be a Magical Practice?
01:02:50 Exhibition, Book and Further Resources
01:05:25 Closing Remarks and Support Angela’s Symposium
01:06:08 Explore a magical universe – drangelapuca.com
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5768951004397568
Published on
