Top 20 Films About Art: From Masterpieces to the Big Screen
Art and cinema have always shared a fascinating relationship. Both use images, colour, light, composition and storytelling to communicate ideas and emotions. From films about legendary painters to documentaries exploring the creative process, cinema offers a unique insight into the world of art.
As an artist and photographer, I'm always interested in how other creative people see and interpret the world. Whether it's the expressive brushwork of Vincent van Gogh, the experimental techniques of Jackson Pollock or the colourful visual imagination of a filmmaker, there is always something to learn.
For this list, I've selected 20 films that explore painting, illustration, street art, artistic expression and the business of creativity. Some tell the stories of famous artists, while others demonstrate how visual art can influence an entire film.
The films are arranged from newest to oldest, with a relevance rating to help identify those most closely connected to the world of art.
1. Mrs Lowry & Son (2019)
Genre: Biographical Drama
Art Relevance Rating: 9/10
🎬 Watch the YouTube trailer: Mrs Lowry & Son — Official Trailer
Synopsis: Timothy Spall stars as the celebrated British artist L. S. Lowry, with Vanessa Redgrave playing his mother, Elizabeth. Set during the early stages of Lowry’s career, the film explores his struggle to gain recognition while caring for his overbearing mother, who repeatedly questions his artistic ambitions.
Art Lesson: Lowry developed a distinctive visual language through his depictions of industrial landscapes, factories and the everyday lives of ordinary people. His story reminds us that an artist doesn’t need to follow convention to create something memorable. Personal experience, observation and an individual way of seeing the world can become the foundations of a truly original artistic style.
2. At Eternity's Gate (2018)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Willem Dafoe stars as Vincent van Gogh in this visually expressive film directed by artist Julian Schnabel. Rather than presenting a conventional biography, the film explores Van Gogh's experience of seeing the world and translating it into paintings.
Art Lesson: Art is about more than accurately reproducing what we see. Colour, atmosphere, texture and personal interpretation can transform an ordinary landscape into something emotionally powerful. This is particularly relevant to artists who want to develop their own visual language.
3. Loving Vincent (2017)
Genre: Animated biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Loving Vincent is a remarkable animated film created using thousands of individually painted oil-painting frames inspired by Van Gogh's distinctive style. Its story investigates the circumstances surrounding his death and explores the lives of those who knew him.
Art Lesson: This film demonstrates how a distinctive artistic style can become an entire visual world. Brushwork, colour, movement and composition all contribute to the storytelling. For painters, illustrators and digital artists, it is an extraordinary example of how traditional techniques can be used in an innovative way.
4. The Square (2017)
Genre: Satirical drama
Art relevance: 9/10
Ruben Östlund's award-winning film follows the curator of a contemporary art museum as he prepares an exhibition centred on a work called The Square. His professional life becomes increasingly complicated, and the film examines the contradictions and pretensions of the modern art establishment.
Art Lesson: Art can challenge audiences, provoke debate and raise questions about society. The film also explores how reputation, publicity and institutional approval influence the way artwork is perceived. It is particularly relevant to anyone interested in the relationship between creativity and the commercial art world.
5. Mr. Turner (2014)
Genre: Historical biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Mike Leigh's film explores the later life of J. M. W. Turner, the British painter renowned for his extraordinary treatment of light, weather, atmosphere and the sea.
Art Lesson: Turner demonstrates how light and atmosphere can become subjects in their own right. A landscape doesn't need to be a perfectly detailed representation of a place; it can communicate a feeling or experience. This is particularly inspiring for landscape painters and photographers.
6. Big Eyes (2014)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Directed by Tim Burton, this film tells the story of Margaret Keane, whose paintings of children with oversized, expressive eyes became hugely popular. It explores her artistic identity and the dispute over who deserved credit for her work.
Art Lesson: Developing a recognisable style can be an important part of an artist's career, but so are ownership, recognition and integrity. The film reminds us that behind every successful artwork is a creator whose contribution deserves to be acknowledged.
7. Tim's Vermeer (2013)
Genre: Art documentary
Art relevance: 9/10
Inventor Tim Jenison attempts to recreate a painting in the style of Johannes Vermeer by investigating whether optical devices could have helped the Dutch master achieve his remarkable realism. His experiment raises intriguing questions about the relationship between technology and artistic skill.
Art Lesson: Artists have always used tools to help them realise their ideas. From optical aids and cameras to digital tablets, the tools themselves do not replace creativity. Observation, judgement and artistic decisions remain central to the process.
8. The Mill and the Cross (2011)
Genre: Historical art drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Inspired by Pieter Bruegel the Elder's painting The Procession to Calvary, this film brings the painting's figures, landscape and interconnected stories to life. It feels like stepping inside a complex work of art.
Art Lesson: Composition can guide an audience through an image, directing attention towards different characters, details and events. The film is a wonderful example of how an artwork can contain several stories within a single frame.
9. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Genre: Street art documentary
Art relevance: 9/10
Banksy's documentary explores street art, graffiti, fame and the commercialisation of creativity. It follows Thierry Guetta's involvement in the street-art scene and his transformation into Mr Brainwash.
The film deliberately blurs the boundaries between documentary, performance and satire.
Art Lesson: Artistic success isn't determined by technique alone. Marketing, reputation, originality and public perception can all influence how artwork is received. For artists who exhibit, sell prints or build a creative business, the film raises questions worth considering.
10. Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)
Genre: Historical drama
Art relevance: 9/10
Inspired by Johannes Vermeer's famous painting, this film imagines the circumstances behind its creation. Scarlett Johansson plays Griet, a young servant who becomes involved in the artist's world.
The film is renowned for its careful composition, restrained colour palette and beautiful use of natural light.
Art Lesson: Great images often rely on subtle decisions. Light, shadow, negative space and the positioning of a subject can create a powerful composition without unnecessary detail. This is a useful lesson for painters, portrait photographers and illustrators alike.
11. Frida (2002)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Salma Hayek stars as Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in this film about her life, relationships, physical suffering and determination to create art. Kahlo transformed personal experiences into deeply expressive paintings filled with symbolism and references to identity.
Art Lesson: Personal experiences can become powerful creative material. Frida's work demonstrates how symbolism, colour and imagination can communicate complex emotions. Artists can draw inspiration from their own experiences while developing a distinctive visual identity.
12. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Genre: Musical romantic drama
Art relevance: 6/10
Baz Luhrmann's spectacular musical isn't a traditional film about a painter, but its extravagant visual style makes it an interesting addition to this list.
Set in the bohemian world of turn-of-the-century Paris, it combines theatrical sets, saturated colours, elaborate costumes, music and rapid editing to create a bold visual experience.
Art Lesson: Visual storytelling doesn't always need to be subtle or realistic. Colour, exaggeration, contrast and dramatic composition can communicate emotion and personality. Artists working in illustration, caricature, graphic design and pop art may find plenty of inspiration here.
13. Pollock (2000)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Directed by and starring Ed Harris, this film explores the life of Jackson Pollock, one of the leading figures of Abstract Expressionism. His distinctive drip-painting technique challenged traditional ideas about how paintings should be created.
Art Lesson: Creativity can emerge from experimentation, movement and the physical act of making art. Pollock's work encourages artists to explore materials and processes rather than feeling restricted by conventional techniques.
14. Love Is the Devil (1998)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 9/10
John Maybury's film explores the life of British painter Francis Bacon and his relationship with George Dyer. Its unsettling imagery reflects Bacon's distorted figures, psychological intensity and unconventional approach to portraiture.
Art Lesson: A portrait doesn't need to be a perfect likeness to communicate something powerful about a person. Distortion, colour and unusual composition can convey emotion and psychological tension in ways that straightforward representation may not.
15. Basquiat (1996)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
This film follows Jean-Michel Basquiat's emergence from New York's street-art scene to international recognition. His work combined graffiti, expressive figures, text, symbols and references to popular culture and history.
Art Lesson: Inspiration can come from anywhere. Street art, music, cartoons, history and everyday experiences can all contribute to an individual visual language. Basquiat's story encourages artists to experiment with different influences rather than confining themselves to a single tradition.
16. I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)
Genre: Biographical Drama
Art Relevance Rating: 9/10
🎬 Watch the YouTube trailer: I Shot Andy Warhol (1996) — Trailer
Synopsis: This edgy independent film explores the life of Valerie Solanas and her connection to Andy Warhol's legendary Factory art scene in 1960s New York. Starring Lili Taylor and Jared Harris, it captures the rebellious personalities and underground culture surrounding the pop art movement.
Art Lesson: Warhol's Factory blurred the boundaries between fine art, celebrity and popular culture. The film highlights how artistic communities can inspire creativity, challenge conventions and change the way we think about art.
17. Caravaggio (1986)
Genre: Historical drama
Art relevance: 9/10
Directed by Derek Jarman, this imaginative film explores the life of Baroque painter Caravaggio. Its dramatic compositions, theatrical lighting and carefully arranged figures draw on the visual qualities of the artist's paintings.
Art Lesson: Light and shadow can completely transform an image. The film demonstrates how contrast, colour and composition direct the viewer's attention and create atmosphere. Portrait photographers and painters can take inspiration from its dramatic visual approach.
18. The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
Genre: Historical epic
Art relevance: 10/10
Charlton Heston portrays Michelangelo in this historical drama about the monumental undertaking of painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling and his difficult relationship with Pope Julius II.
Art Lesson: Ambitious creative projects demand perseverance, craftsmanship and problem-solving. The film offers a reminder that major works of art are rarely achieved without frustration, experimentation and sustained effort.
19. The Rebel (1961)
Genre: British comedy
Art relevance: 7/10
Tony Hancock stars as an office worker who abandons conventional life to pursue his ambition of becoming an artist in Paris. His experiences provide comic observations about artistic pretension, fashionable movements and the search for recognition.
Art Lesson: Art doesn't always need to be serious. The film pokes fun at the art establishment and questions the difference between genuine creative expression and following fashionable trends. It is a humorous reminder to develop your own style and retain a sense of perspective.
20. Lust for Life (1956)
Genre: Biographical drama
Art relevance: 10/10
Kirk Douglas stars as Vincent van Gogh in this classic adaptation of Irving Stone's novel. The film follows Van Gogh's artistic development, his relationship with Paul Gauguin and the challenges he faced throughout his life.
Art Lesson: An artist's surroundings, experiences and emotions can profoundly influence their creative output. The landscapes of France become more than locations; they help us understand the visual world that inspired Van Gogh's paintings. It is also an interesting companion to At Eternity's Gate, offering a different cinematic interpretation of the same artist.
What can we learn from these films?
Looking across these 20 films, several themes emerge that are relevant to artists working in any medium.
Develop a distinctive style. Van Gogh, Basquiat and Pollock demonstrate the power of an individual visual language.
Observe light and atmosphere. Turner and Vermeer offer inspiration for painters and photographers.
Experiment with techniques. Picasso and Pollock remind us that creative development involves exploration and discovery.
Use art to tell stories. Loving Vincent and The Mill and the Cross demonstrate how images can communicate complex narratives.
Understand the art world. Big Eyes and Exit Through the Gift Shop explore the importance of recognition, ownership and commercial success.
Final thoughts: art is everywhere
You don't need to be a painter to appreciate films about art. Photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, sculptors and filmmakers can all find inspiration in the way artists observe, interpret and represent the world.
As someone who works across painting, photography and illustration, I find the connections between these disciplines particularly fascinating. A photograph can inspire a painting, a painting can influence an illustration, and a film can change the way we see both.
For me, art is about curiosity, experimentation and telling stories through images. Whether we're using a camera, a palette knife, a paintbrush or a digital pen, we're all trying to communicate something to the person looking at our work.
What are your favourite films about art and artists? Have I missed a classic that deserves to be included? I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Explore more of my work at Arttoon and Neil G Smith Photography.
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