Top artist film biopics

These are my favorite films about artists listed in chronological order

1.  Vincent and Theo (1990)

Robert Altman captures the essence of an artist (Vincent van Gogh) actully creating -- no small feat in filmaking. The film paints a complex, contradictiory portraits of Vincent and his brother Theo and the shifting dynamic between them.

2.  Basquiat (1996)

Director Julian Schnabel, an acclaimed painter in his own right, weaves a suble portrayal of a complex artist, beautifully acted by Jeffrey Wright.

3.  Pollock (2000)

A vivid and grim portrait of an artist struggling for recognition as well as wrestling with his inner demons. Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden and the rest of the cast turn in pitch perfect performances.

4.  Frida (2002)

The film is a rich and multi-layered account of Frida Kahlo, wife of Mexican artist Diego Riviera and an acclaimed artist in her own right. Salma Hayak reveals Kahlo's inner complexities in a biting, realistic turn.

5.  Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

A quiet, contemplative film masking turbulent emotions of the main characters. A visually stunning film, director Peter Webber recreates actual scenes based on Johannes Vermeer's paintings.

 

Artist Anish Kapoor in London and Chicago

Anish Kapoor, whose sculpture "Cloud Gate" accentuates Millenium Park in Chicago -- it has become an iconic symbol of 21st century sculpture and is a real crowd pleaser -- has a retrospective exhibition currently on show in London. In this vid, he very much articulates his artistic process while at the creative peak of his career.

The Birth of Modernism

Adam Gopnik in "The New Yorker" wrote an insightful article about the beginnings of moderism in art, and how the story of Vincent van Gogh's severed ear became a talisman of modern painting. Modernism became an inspiring story of sacrifices made and sainthood obtained by artists willing to lose their sanity on its behalf. Read the full article in the link below (subscription required).

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/01/04/100104fa_fact_gopnik