Con Artist (2010)

Enter the world of Mark Kostabi, a provocative figure in the sphere of "business art," a movement spawned in the wake of Warhol's commodified creativity. CON ARTIST unravels the enigma of this polarizing artist who has made a lucrative career from selling hundreds of paintings each year, none of which bear the stroke of his own brush. Kostabi's art factory, a thriving hive of employee creativity, churns out these masterpieces destined for the walls of mid-level collectors around the globe. Once a dazzling comet in New York's vibrant 1980s Post-Punk and Hip Hop-infused art firmament, Kostabi soon plummeted from the heavens, shunned by the glittering galaxy of the art elite. Unfazed, he remains a relentless art merchant, and a bewildering television host of "Title This," a bizarre game show where celebrities, art veterans, and punk rock survivors engage in riveting battles of wits to christen his paintings. Kostabi's life, an unending whirl of ambition, self-promotion, and controversy, presents a riveting study of a man grappling with the pursuit of fame, wealth, and the elusive quest for love. His critics argue that he's either a mirror reflecting America's insatiable hunger for fame and fortune or simply a human enigma wrapped in layers of complexity. As he gears up for a monumental trip to Italy to present a Kostabi statue to the Pope, the film explores his attempts to resuscitate his tarnished reputation and control the narrative of the film. CON ARTIST paints a vivid, often hilarious, portrait of a man whose "fame is love" mantra and intricate subterfuge present an absorbing character study. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Terry Zweigof's Crumb, Barbara Koppel's Wild Man Blues, and Orson Welles' F for Fake, CON ARTIST shines a spotlight on a fascinating subject, serving as a conduit for a broader discourse on art, fame, and the human condition.

Con Artist is a documentary movie featuring Wilfredo Arias and directed by Michael Sládek.

Con Artist is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and VUDU Free.

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