Movies & Documentaries For Art Lovers
We’re taking full advantage of this in-between week (when no-one remembers what day it is) to enjoy some well deserved R&R to recharge for new, exciting projects in January.
If (like us) you’ve watched every Christmas movie over the holidays, why not enjoy a brilliant documentary or film to learn about an artist or the art world?
Here are our favourite ART films and documentaries to watch if you are having some down time over the festive period..
5 Hollywood Films Inspired by Artists:
Loving Vincent (2017)
Loving Vincent is the world's first fully painted film. Animated from over 65,000 frames on over 1,000 canvases, it’s a sumptuous visual feast, recreated in the familiar style of the artist.
Frida (2002)
Frida is a phenomenal biography depicting the professional and private life of the surrealist Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Starring Salma Hayek in an Academy Award–nominated portrayal as Kahlo and Alfred Molina as her husband, Diego Rivera.
The Best Offer (2013)
Inspired by the art world, Geoffrey Rush plays the director of a prestigious auction house who falls in love with a young heiress (who disappears with his collection of paintings)!
Big Eyes (2015)
Big Eyes is a biographical drama about the life of American artist Margaret Keane—known for her portraits of people with big eyes in the 50s and 60s and her husband, Walter, who took credit for her work. The film follows the lawsuit and trial between Margaret and Walter, after Margaret reveals she is the true artist behind the paintings.
Girl With a Pearl Earring (2003)
A dramatic adaptation of the eponymous Tracy Chevalier Novel starring Scarlett Johansson as a young servant in the 17th-century household of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (played by Colin Firth) at the time he painted Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665) in the city of Delft in Holland.
7 Documentaries on Artists and The Art World:
Ai Wei Wei Never Sorry (2012)
The extraordinary life and work of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. This sensitively made documentary showcases his artistic process as he prepares for a museum exhibition, his close relationships and his clashes with the government.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)
A thoughtful documentary film which crosscuts excerpts from an on-camera interview with the artist and extensive interviews and anecdotes from his friends and associates. Filmaker Tamra Davis explores Basquiat’s rise in the art world and how the artist dealt with his success and acclaim.
Kusama: Infinity (2018)
This documentary explores artist Yayoi Kusama's journey from a conservative upbringing in Japan to her brush with fame in America during the 1960s (where she rivaled Andy Warhol for press attention) and concludes with the international fame she has finally achieved within the art world.
The Price of Everything (2018)
The Price of Everything opens up the often hidden world of the contemporary art market, from behind the scenes at big auctions to the homes of private collectors, interviewing artists, art critics, art dealers, auctioneers, collectors and experts to gain an insight into the contemporary art market.
Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present (2012)
A collection of clips from the famed artist's emotional exhibition. A fascinating look at the behind the scenes preparation, practicalities and what drove the artist and her unorthodox methods for this particular body of work.
Ava Hesse (2016)
Documentary film focusing on the life and times of Eva Hesse, a ground-breaking artist who was active in New York and Germany in the 1960’s. Using archive footage, the film provides a fascinating insight into the artist’s process and the art world of the 1960s.
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict (2015)
A portrait of iconic patron of the arts Peggy Guggenheim, who built one of the most significant collections of 20th Century art, housed in her breathtaking Venetian palazzo.
What are some of your must-watch films about the contemporary art scene? We’re always looking for new recommendations and tips and we’d love to hear from you over on Instagram!
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