Top 10 Films About Art

Description: Based on Oscar Wilde's novel, this film explores themes of beauty, youth, and the corrupting influence of art through the story of Dorian Gray, whose portrait ages while he remains youthful.

Fact: The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Best Cinematography.

Description: This film tells the story of Frida Kahlo, the iconic Mexican artist known for her self-portraits and surrealist works, highlighting her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and her personal struggles.

Fact: Salma Hayek, who portrayed Kahlo, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was also nominated for six Oscars, including Best Makeup.

Description: This biopic delves into the life of Jackson Pollock, the abstract expressionist painter known for his drip technique, capturing his artistic evolution and personal demons.

Fact: Ed Harris, who played Pollock, also directed the film. The movie was shot in many of the actual locations where Pollock lived and worked.

Description: While not exclusively about art, this film intertwines the lives of three women connected by Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway," exploring themes of creativity, mental health, and the impact of literature.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Virginia Woolf.

Description: Inspired by Tracy Chevalier's novel, this film imagines the story behind Vermeer's famous painting, focusing on the relationship between Vermeer and his young maid, Griet, who becomes his muse.

Fact: The film was shot in Delft, where Vermeer lived, and the sets were meticulously designed to reflect the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.

Description: Based on the novel by David Ebershoff, this film explores the life of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery, and her relationship with her wife, Gerda Wegener, who was also an artist.

Fact: The film was shot in Copenhagen, where Lili Elbe lived. Eddie Redmayne's performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

Description: This film tells the true story of Margaret Keane, whose paintings of big-eyed children were initially credited to her husband, Walter Keane, until she fought for recognition.

Fact: Amy Adams, who played Margaret Keane, was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.

Description: This biographical drama focuses on the last 25 years of the life of the eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner, exploring his art, his relationships, and his unconventional lifestyle.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Margate, where Turner spent much of his later life. Timothy Spall, who played Turner, won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Description: This film captures the rise of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a graffiti artist who became a sensation in the 1980s New York art scene, exploring his friendship with Andy Warhol and his struggles with fame and addiction.

Fact: The film features real-life artists like Julian Schnabel, who also directed the movie, and David Bowie as Andy Warhol.

Description: This film focuses on the last days of Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian painter and sculptor, as he competes in a contest to see who can produce the best painting, capturing the bohemian art scene of Paris.

Fact: The film was shot in Paris, where Modigliani lived and worked, and includes scenes at the famous Montparnasse Cemetery where he is buried.