Raymond Pettibon and Amy Sedaris collaborate with Marcel Dzama in a pair of releases to open Art21’s third and final wave of new films for 2019

(NEW YORK — September 4, 2019) — Art21 announced today its third and final wave of film releases for 2019, unveiling six new films to premiere every other Wednesday starting today and continuing through October 30. Sixteen total film premieres comprise Art21’s 2019 film programming, further expanding the breadth and comprehensiveness of Art21’s leading digital film collection on contemporary artists.

Opening the fall 2019 wave is a pair of new films from Art21’s Extended Play series documenting artist Marcel Dzama‘s drawing and film collaborations with Raymond Pettibon and Amy Sedaris. Both films are available to watch in full starting today on Art21.org and YouTube.

Also forthcoming in the Extended Play series is a new film featuring Stephanie Syjuco, who was previously featured in the most recent season of Art21’s Peabody Award-winning Art in the Twenty-First Century series, which aired on PBS in 2018. The New York Close Up series introduces a new addition to its roster, Maryam Hoseini, with a debut film featuring the painter as part of the fall 2019 releases. The series also presents new films on performance artist and sculptor Aki Sasamoto (her second film in the series) and the intensive drawing practice of Louise Despont (her third film in the series).

“At the start of 2019, we set out to introduce a steady stream of new stories for audiences to enjoy at any time and in any place,” said Tina Kukielski, Art21 executive director and chief curator. “With the six films in this latest wave, and the sixteen total for the year, we have more than exceeded our original expectations for the year and remain eagerly optimistic about sharing more new stories in the coming year.”

Ten films from Art21’s first two waves of 2019 can be streamed in full from Art21.org and YouTube—featuring, in order of premiere: Kevin Beasley; Doreen Garner; David Goldblatt; Elle Pérez; Creative Growth Art Center; Jes Fan; Zanele Muholi; Dan Herschlein; Luchita Hurtado; and Olafur Eliasson.

Marcel Dzama’s Film and Drawing Collaborations

A simultaneous release of two films opens Art21’s fall programming season, each a different perspective of the collaborative nature of artist Marcel Dzama’s practice. “I enjoy working alone for about a month and then after that I really need to be around other artists,” describes Dzama. “I always really enjoy collaboration.”

In the first release of the pair, Dzama is seen at work on a series of drawings with friend and frequent collaborator Raymond Pettibon. The two artists work side-by-side on large-scale drawings of cathedrals, horses, and waves, allowing their work to unfold organically.

In the second release, Dzama and Pettibon extend their collaboration into another medium—film—joined by actor and writer Amy Sedaris. “He’s trapped in a seven-year-old[‘s] body,” says Sedaris of Dzama. “That’s what’s so fun about working with him.”

Both films are available to watch in full starting today on Art21.org and YouTube.

Maryam Hoseini Expands the New York Close Up Roster

Celebrating its landmark eighth year, the New York Close Up series introduces its fifth and final new roster addition for 2019, painter Maryam Hoseini. Herself coming off of a breakthrough year of exhibiting internationally and at major art happenings, Hoseini’s debut film follows the artist at work in New York City. The film will premiere on Art21.org and YouTube on October 30, closing out the fall programming series.

Earlier in 2019, New York Close Up included series debuts from Kevin Beasley, Jes Fan, Dan Herschlein, and Elle Pérez.

Since its inaugural film premiere in June 2011, New York Close Up has profiled over 30 early-career artists, living and working in New York City, across over 80 films, including Rashid Johnson, Diana Al-Hadid, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Jacolby Satterwhite, Jamian Juliano-Villani, Kalup Linzy, Keltie Ferris, Mika Rottenberg, Lucas Blalock, Avery Singer, and Jordan Casteel, among others.

Always on view

The Art21 film collection features over 60 hours of video content, all available to view around the clock and free of charge at Art21.org and Art21.live.

In addition to full episodes from each of the nine seasons produced to date of the Peabody Award-winning PBS-broadcast series, Art in the Twenty-First Century, the Art21 film collection is rounded out by over 300 films across two digital series, Extended Play and New York Close Up—demonstrating Art21’s ongoing commitment to digital-first video programming, and underscoring the nonprofit organization’s position as the leading producer of films documenting the creative processes of today’s artists.

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Fall 2019 Film Guide

Marcel Dzama with Raymond Pettibon (September 4; Extended Play)

From their mutual gallery in New York City, Marcel Dzama and Raymond Pettibon collaborate on a new series of drawings. The two artists work side-by-side on large-scale drawings of cathedrals, horses, and waves, allowing their work to unfold organically. Since meeting through an event at their gallery, Pettibon and Dzama now frequently collaborate, allowing their own styles and signature imagery to influence one another.

Marcel Dzama with Amy Sedaris (September 4; Extended Play)

Mirroring filmmaking collaborations during his formative years in Winnipeg, Marcel Dzama directs a new film with his friends and collaborators, Amy Sedaris and Raymond Pettibon. Dzama’s filmmaking practice typically begins on paper, with his drawings capturing visual and narrative starting points. On set, Dzama encourages open-ended collaboration and improvisation with Sedaris and Pettibon, allowing for a sense of play, spontaneity, and temporary community before he returns to his more contemplative studio practice.

Aki Sasamoto (September 18; New York Close Up)

Sculptor and performance artist Aki Sasamoto, through a blend of performed and vérité moments, reflects on her life as an artist and new parent. Exploring her fascination with happy hour culture, the artist contemplates her work across multiple scenarios—with a bartender friend at a local bar, at work in her studio at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and firing whisky glasses at UrbanGlass—culminating with the installation of her work as part of a solo exhibition in New York City.

Stephanie Syjuco (October 2; Extended Play)

Shown both gardening and creating textile-based work for a recent installation, Stephanie Syjuco reflects on American identity and the history of colonialism as represented by crops such as corn and squash, in addition to historical fashion. Through use of “chromakey green”-colored fabrics and materials, Syjuco calls attention to aspects of American history that are ignored or go unseen.

Louise Despont (October 16; New York Close Up)

A native New Yorker now working in Bali, Louise Despont shares how her adopted island home subtly shapes her intensive practice, informing the devotional, meditative, and fragile elements of her drawings. The artist relocated to Indonesia during a state of emotional vulnerability, soon discovering that her drawing practice sustained her. Through an immersive installation of drawing and sound at the Drawing Center in New York City, the artist captured the sensations experienced in the first year of living abroad.

Maryam Hoseini (October 30; New York Close Up)

An Iranian-born painter, Maryam Hoseini makes formally complicated figurative paintings that explore the body, identity, and history. The artist is seen painting in her Brooklyn studio at a moment when her work has become increasingly exhibited, having recently shown work at a solo booth during the 2019 installment of Frieze New York, as well as at an exhibition in Venice coinciding with the 2019 Venice Biennale.

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About Art21

Since 1997, Art21 has been recognized as a celebrated global leader in presenting thought-provoking and sophisticated content about contemporary art. It is the go-to place to learn firsthand about some of the most interesting working artists today—from the artists themselves—and is responsible for introducing millions of people to contemporary art and artists. Founded on the belief that artists are role models for creative and critical thinking, Art21’s mission aims to inspire a more creative and tolerant world through the works and words of contemporary artists.

Art21.org provides an unparalleled year-round, always-on look at working artists, a continuous digital presence for an organization that is widely recognized for a biennial television series. The Art21 film library houses over 60 hours of original video content—over 500 videos all open and free to the public. Reaching audiences of over 5 million a month, Art21’s digital initiatives continue the organization’s long-standing tradition of using the power of digital media to inspire audiences worldwide by exposing them to contemporary artists.

Through its education program, Art21 engages audiences in dialogue about the contemporary art and artists featured in Art21 films. Art21’s educational initiatives include the Art21 Educators learning community, the production of interpretive resources, professional development workshops and lectures, and participatory programs and screening events.

To date, Art21’s digital films have had over 50 film festival acceptances across the world and have been nominated for a Webby Award and won a Cine Golden Eagle.

Art21 programs are made possible through the generosity of The Anna Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation; Agnes Gund; PBS; the Lambent Foundation Fund of the Tides Foundation; The David S. Howe Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; The Ford Foundation; The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation; and The Andreas Foundation.

Generous support of New York Close Up is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts; and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional support for New York Close Up is provided by individual contributors.

Generous support of Extended Play is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts; and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional support for Extended Play is provided by the Art21 Contemporary Council; and by individual contributors.

For a full list of Art21 supporters, please visit Art21.org.

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Press Contact

Jonathan Munar
Director of Digital, Art21
press [AT] art21 [DOT] org