Richard Artschwager: The artist who doesn’t fit any category | Documentary “Shut up and Look“

Richard Artschwager (1923- 2013) is a distinguished quirky American artist whose works command hundreds of thousands of dollars - yet, fame eludes him. His eclecticism has made Artschwager tough to categorize. He’s been called a pop artist, a conceptual artist, a minimalist, but none of those schools fit the range of his work. The artist says himself “If you are a ’school of…,’ you’re dead. The only way to keep from drowning is to be original.“ ************ Subscribe to wocomoCULTURE: Follow us on Facebook: ************ Born from German and Russian parents Richard Artschwager early on showed a talent for drawing. Fluent in many languages and a good pianist, he made his breakthrough relatively late after having built and sold furniture for some time. Director Maryte Kavaliauskas’ film provides an intimate look at this extraordinarily gifted artist as he abandoned a reclusive life style to allow our camera into his private world over the last 8 years. In that time, Richard, who has been known for his black and white work, turned to color for the first time. He is facing the challenges of getting older while still making radical changes, creating the most vibrant works of his life. While the painter explains some of his work and is seen drawing we get the impression, that he is also making fun of himself and art lovers. A rich selection of his work and contributions from friends, gallerists, curators and collectors round off the picture. Director: Maryte Kavaliaskas Producer: Morning Slayter Production company: Long Tail Films Licensed by Poorhouse, 2012