Artists Biographies on Film Top Movies About Visual Artists

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen.

Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies.

Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952


Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen.


If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990.


Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996


Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius.


Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003


Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.


Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996


The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.


Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002


Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.

About the Author

Sharmila Pundit was born in Sri Lank in 1962. She resides and works in Las Vegas, Nevada. More of her articles can be found at the www.gambling-portal.com internet casinos guide, which provides up to date information on everything from

Courtney Love in ‘Basquiat’ (1996) scene 1/2

Basquiat: Original Soundtrack - Music From The Miramax Film $8.00 SOUNDTRACK BASQUIAT...

Basquiat $18.88 Great ensemble cast in a film about the New York art world and one man's short but meteoric journey through it....

Charlie Rose with Julian Schnabel; David Bowie (August 9, 1996) $24.95 Artist, Julian Schnabel, a painter and sculptor, speaks about his turn as director to create a biopic about Jean-Michel Basquiat, the talented African-American painter who died at age twenty- seven. Later, musician turned actor, David Bowie, who plays Andy Warhol in the movie, joins the discussion about Basquiat.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's stan...

Art in America (September 1996) Articles about Warhol & Basquiet's collaboration; Chicago's New MCA; LeDray's Microcraft; and Mel Bochner's pioneering conceptual works of 1966-73....

Contemporary Art Part I Sotheby's London, December 5, 1996 Including Works from the University of Pennsylvania Great auction catalog featuring artwork by Modern and Contemporary artists. Beautifully illustrated with 69 color illustrations of paintings, drawings, sculpture, Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism. Several fold-out illustrations. Illustrated artists include: Andy Warhol, Lucio Fontana, Gerhard Richter, Jean Michel Basquiat, de Kooning, Yves Klein, Dubuffet, Arman, Soulage, Tapies, Leon K...

Basquiat $5.59 Jean-Michel Basquiat was just an antisocial street bum writing graffiti on alley walls before he became part of Andy Warhol's eccentric art scene. Soon, the talented tagger became a highly praised figure in the New York City art world.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child $16.93 Director Tamra Davis delves into the life of the artist whose status as a cult figure began to overshadow his neoexpressionist output, and whose friendship with Andy Warhol cemented his role in pop-culture history. In the late '70s, a Lower East Side graffiti artist who signed his work "Samo" emerged the darling of the New York art scene. Samo's real name was Jean-Michel Basquiat, and in just a few short years, Basquiat would be an internationally celebrated artist. But being a black artist in the 1970s wasn't all fun and fame; despite all of his success, Basquiat found intolerance and misconceptions dogging him at every turn. In this film, Basquiat's friend Davis uses her talents as a filmmaker to offer a better look at both the man and the iconoclast. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The Battle for the Olympia 1996 $28.49 As one long fascinated by the world of extreme bodybuilding, Japanese director Mitsuru Okabe built a career for himself helming "mondo" style documentary glimpses of weightlifters. The Battle for the Olympia 1996 witnesses musclemen including Chris Cormier, Shawn Ray and Aaron Baker undergoing rigorous personal training for the 1996 Mr. Olympia competition. The program does not include footage of the competition itself. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

1996 Kentucky/Syracuse $9.98 In 1996, the Kentucky Wildcats, led by tournament MVP Tony Delk, faced off against the Jim Boeheim coached Syracuse Orangemen in the final of the men's NCAA division I college basketball tournament. This release contains the entire television broadcast of that event, minus the commercials. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Bulletproof (1996) $9.88 Once inseparable pals, Archie (Adam Sandler) and Rock (Damon Wayans) find themselves on opposite sides of the law, each feeling betrayed by the other. In fact, the only person who hates them more than they hate each other is the ruthless drug kingpin (James Caan) who wants to put them both six feet under. Now, through a strange twist of fate, Archie and Rock are on the run...together! With a little luck, the bungling boys just might get out of this one alive -- if they kill each other first!

Emma (1996) $9.52 Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Greta Scacchi. Mischievous, meddlesome Emma plays matchmaker for her friends, with hilarious results. Based on Jane Austen's novel. 1996/color/121 min/PG/widescreen.

Berlin Philharmonic: New Year's Gala 1996 $18.14 This video captures a 1996 New Year's concert by the Berlin Philharmonic. The group presents materials from Berloiz, Brahms, and Ravel. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Deep Purple: Live at Montreux, 1996 $10.94 British rock-and-roll legends Deep Purple take the stage of the Montreux Music festival for a 1996 performance featuring ten of the longtime band's best loved tunes including "Fireball", "Woman from Tokyo", "Speed King, and, of course, "Smoke on the Water". Bonus tracks from the band's appearance at the 2000 Montreux Music Festival appearance include "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming" and "Fools". ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Nutty Professor (1996) $17.6 Eddie Murphy stars as Dr. Sherman Klump, a kind, "calorically challenged" genetics professor who longs to shed his 400-pound frame in order to win the heart of beautiful Jada Pinkett. So, with one swig of his experimental fat-reducing serum, Sherman becomes "Buddy Love", a fast-talking, pumped-up, plumped-down Don Juan. Can Sherman stop his buff alter ego before it's too late, or will Buddy have the last laugh?

Muppet Treasure Island (1996) $11.29 Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of a young orphan who becomes involved with pirate Long John Silver is given the Muppet treatment in this vibrant children's musical. As in The Muppet Christmas Carol, the film stays loyal to the original storyline but casts the well-known puppets in many of the supporting roles. Young Jim Hawkins remains human, as does Long John Silver, played by an amusingly exaggerated Tim Curry. However, Captain Smollet is played by the evergreen Kermit the Frog; Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Rizzo the Rat serve as roving narrators; and numerous other Muppets assume smaller roles. The familiar adventure plot is enlivened by the Muppets' good-natured, winking sense of humor, and a number of anarchic musical numbers are reminiscent of the original Muppet Show. Long-time followers of the Muppets may find the film less fresh than Jim Henson's original creations, but the combination of old-fashioned storytelling, intriguing design, and clever humor will undoubtedly amuse younger audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi