There are few things more fascinating than the inner workings of an
artist’s creative process. Art documentaries not only provide a glimpse
into how creative people tick and go about their work, but it can help
us understand our own approaches toward making things. They can spark
new ideas, and even help us realize that we aren’t alone in our weird
ways. Plus, they’re usually entertaining, as is often the case when
creatives decide to document other creatives.
The art documentaries below offer snapshots into the lives and work
of actors, painters, photographers, sculptors, typeface creators,
freelancers in general, and more. This is the year we learned that Jim
Carrey is a painter, and that Atlanta’s rap scene prefers to be
photographed by a 25-year-old with a film camera. We also saw the launch
of new projects by creative-focused companies like WeTransfer, Artsy
and AND CO. Our favourite magazines, from i-D to Complex are also hard at work making captivating short films.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, or need to watch something
that will get the gear in your brain turning, look no further than our
round-up of the best art documentaries in 2017.
AND CO’s SOLO NYC
AND CO’s SOLO NYC
series focuses on a few rising creative freelancers, cutting together
interviews that discuss trials and triumphs. New York City, of course,
is a famously make-it-or-break-it city, and this series gets into what
it takes to live and work there in a creative industry. So far, they’ve
spoken with lettering artist Alex Trochut, chef Adriana Urbina, pottery
artist Helen Levi, and creative director Zipeng Zhu.
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WeTransfer’s The Backstage Sessions
Image is one of the most important things for a musician—it expresses
who they are, what they’re like, and what you might be able to expect
from their music. In three new short documentaries WeTransfer has spoken
to some of the photographers who helped build the image of artists like
Marianne Faithfull, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie,
and more. Check out what David Montgomery, Kevin Cummins, and Gered
Mankowitz have to say about shooting some of the biggest names in rock
‘n’ roll.
Jim Carrey: I Needed Color from JC on Vimeo.Jim Carrey: I Needed Color
Most people know Jim Carrey as a goofball, the star of classic comedies like Dumb & Dumber and The Mask. But he’s shown miraculous depth in his roles, too, dealing with a broken heart (and so much more) in Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind and portraying complex comedian Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon. And what you might not know is that in recent years he’s become incredibly prolific with his painting. I Needed Color lets you into his vivid world.
Jeff Koons for MOCA Los Angeles
Artist Jeff Koons has built everything from humongous magenta balloon
dogs, to sculptures of Michael Jackson and his monkey Bubbles, to a
rainbow BMW race car. Narrated by actor Scarlett Johansson, this doc
commissioned by MOCA Los Angeles
for their 2017 gala honoring the artist, offers up some biographical
info on Koons, the inspirations for some of his work, and interviews
with him. And it’s edited with the same punch that his art has.
Buck the Cubicle: Pigment Hunter from P2 Photography on Vimeo.
Buck the Cubicle
Buck the Cubicle is a series from P2 Photography
that documents people who “work in various offbeat occupations.” Ever
wanted to know what a pigment hunter is, how an ice sculptor works, how
someone might hunt with a golden eagle, or what it’s like to be a
“professional princess” for a living? Buck the Cubicle has you covered.
.Complex’s The Culture
Gunner Stahl is barely a quarter century old, and yet he’s the guy
that some of rap and pop’s biggest stars trust to take their photo. For Complex,
The Culture gets into why he shoots film, the whirlwind his life has
become, and what it’s like to shoot other artists. The Culture continues
this series by speaking with all manner of other creatives: music video
director Colin Tilley, musician Kaytranada, and jack of all trades
Brock Korsan are a few of the others.
.The Creator Class Tutorials
Presented by Canon, The Creator Class
makes mini-docs that get into the nitty gritty of photographing certain
subjects with specific techniques, but they’re beautifully-shot and
easy to follow. So far they’ve showcased Mark Sommerfeld, music photographer Vanessa Heins, and Maria Jose Govea, who photographed St. Vincent’s most recent music video.
.i-D Meets: Next Gen Photographers
In this documentary, i-D
features photographers Campbell Addy, Olivia Rose, and Ronan Mckenzie,
following them cross-country and capturing their work in fashion,
documentary, and portrait photography. Director Tom Ivin has managed to
get some intimate insights into each person’s process.
InFrame - Andrew Harnik from InFrame on Vimeo.Format’s Inframe
And of course, we had to mention our very own InFrame series.
Directed by Bas Berkhout, InFrame profiles a wide range of creative
talent and their journey to the top. We’ve spoken with sculptor Cristina
Cordova, political photojournalist Andrew Harnik, illustrator Paul
Pateman, and many others. You can watch them all here.
.Noisey Meets Cam Kirk
In this documentary, Noisey
visits hip-hop photographer Cam Kirk, who’s not only shot big names
like Gucci Mane, Future, and Young Thug, but has created the iconic
images that have come to define those artists.
