The 2026 Whitney Biennial artist blends the Kennedys, Oprah, and courtroom drama into absurdist video works
New York, New York—August 17, 2026—Art21 today announced the release of “Jordan Strafer’s True Stories,” a new documentary film exploring the process and works of video artist Jordan Strafer. The child of South Florida attorneys, Strafer creates elaborate re-enactments of historical events, cultural touchstones, and personal experiences, frequently featuring surrealist depictions of real court cases.
Directed by Andrea Yu-Chieh Chung, the film premieres online Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 12 pm ET on Art21.org and YouTube.
“In our film,” Chung says, “we make a point of juxtaposing the archival footage of Jordan’s references, her filming process, and her final films, so viewers can clearly see what she’s changing.” By showing what the artist has fictionalized, “viewers can get a better sense of what she’s critiquing and what she wants us to notice.”
This short documentary captures Strafer with her cast and crew on the set of her latest video work—TALK SHOW (2026), currently on view as part of the 2026 Whitney Biennial. The artist traces the development of her hybrid sensibility, embarking on deep dives into 1980s “Inner Child” pop psychology and the infamous 1991 William Kennedy Smith trial. “I’m not interested in finding the truth,” Strafer says of her work’s relationship to real world events. “I’m trying to find the spaces around truth.”
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New York Close Up (NYCU) is devoted to capturing early career artists living and working in New York City. NYCU films have been accepted and honored by over 100 film festivals worldwide, including Academy Awards-qualifying festivals like AmDocs Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, BlackStar, DOC NYC, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and Palm Springs ShortFest. NYCU films have also been honored with 2 Webby Award nominations and 9 Vimeo Staff Picks.
New York Close Up is made possible with support from Scott Power and Channing Dungey, the Every Page Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the Henry Nias Foundation.
About Art21
As the leading independent producer documenting the art of our time, Art21 was established with a mission to expand access to artists and their ideas, meet audiences where they are, and explore connections between artists and their communities. To date, Art21 has created 85+ hours of films documenting over 300 artists across six continents.
For more information, visit Art21.org.
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For an advance screening or to learn more, email Art21 Associate Director of Communications, Hannah DeGarmo, at hannah@art21.org.
