I have selected 59 documentaries, with links, so you can look them up. It’s the kind of list to introduce you to new artists and to inspire you to find further material about them.

You may notice that I have thrown a load of female artists in amongst those genius’ that are usually the same old ones cherry-picked from history by filmmakers. Just so you know, it took a lot of effort and time to research and find anything substantial on these formidable lady-like creatures that trail-blazed their creativity in the paths of adversity. I must say though, after making this list of documentaries about artists, I now understand why researches usually just take the material that naturally sifts to the top, as it’s much easier than trying to dig out some obscure little feminine nugget from the archives of Youtube.

A list of documentaries about artists

This list is in alphabetical order by the artists’ surname. Click the links to read the reviews.

  1. Marina Abramovic 1946 – Marina Abramovic’s Relentless, Violent Genius | Brilliant Ideas Ep. 26
  2. Francis Bacon: A Brush with Violence (2017)
  3. Jean-Michel Basquiat 1960–1988 – The Radiant Child (2010)
  4. Jean-Michel Basquiat 1960–1988 – Basquiat: Rage to Riches (2017)
  5. Jean-Michel Basquiat 1960–1988 – Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat (2017)
  6. Banksy – Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
  7. Chris Burdon 1946–2015 – Burden (2016)
  8. Rosa Bonheur 1822–1988 “As far as males go, I only like the bulls I paint” | National Gallery
  9. Pierre Bonnard 1867–1947 – A Love Exposed
  10. Alexander Calder 1898-1976 – Un inventeur radical (2018)
  11. Alexander Calder 1898-1976 – Alexander Calder
  12. Leonora Carrington 1917–2011 – El juego surrealista (2012)
  13. Leonora Carrington 1917–2011 – The Lost Surrealist
  14. Helen Chadwick 1953–1996 – The Art of Helen Chadwick Full Documentary
  15. Salvador Dalí 1904–1989 – In Search of Immortality (2018)
  16. Edgar Degas 1834–1917 – Those of Our Land (1915)
  17. Max Ernst 1891–1976 – The BEST Surrealists~Max Ernst
  18. Lavinia Fontana 1552–1614 – Lavinia Fontana Biographical Film
  19. Gilbert and George 1943 and 1942 – The Great Exhibition  (2019)
  20. Artemisia Gentileschi: “The Spirit of Caesar in the soul of a woman!” | National Gallery
  21. Barbara Hepworth 1903–1975 – Barbara Hepworth (1961)
  22. Barbara Hepworth1903–1975 – Barbara Hepworth BBC John Read (1961)
  23. Hannah Höch 1889–1978 – Introduction to Hannah Höch
  24. David Hockney 1932 – A Bigger Splash (1973)
  25. David Hockney 1932 – The Colors of Music (2003)
  26. Edward Hopper 1882–1967 – Shirley: Visions of Reality (2013)
  27. Frida Kahlo 1907–1954 – Frida Kahlo (1982)
  28. Wassily Kandinsky 1866–1944 – I spy with my little eye (2010)
  29. Paul Klee 1879–1940 – The Silence of the Angel (2005)
  30. Gustav Klimt 1862–1918 – Stealing Klimt (2007)
  31. Gustav Klimt 1862–1918 – Klimt & Schiele: Eros and Psyche (2018)
  32. Lee Krasner 1908–1984 – When Lee Krasner Harnessed the Power of the Sun on Canvas
  33. Käthe Kollwitz 1867–1945 – Ein Leben in Leidenschaft (2017)
  34. Käthe Kollwitz 1867–1945 – Portrait of the German artist of expressionism
  35. Judith Leyster 1609–1660 – ARTH 4117 Northern Baroque 4: Judith Leyster (Dutch)
  36. Agnes Martin 1912–2004 – On a Clear Day (2000)
  37. Agnes Martin 1912–2004 – With my Back to the World (2002)
  38. Agnes Martin 1912–2004 – Between the Lines (2016)
  39. Alice Neel 1900–1984 – Alice Neel (2007)
  40. Louise Nevelson 1899 – Nevelson in Process, 1977 | From the Vaults
  41. Cornelia Parker 1956 – What Do Artists Do All Day? 1/2
  42. Pablo Picasso 1881–1973 – The Mystery of Picasso (1956)
  43. Niko Pirosmanishvili 1862–1918 – Niko Pirosmanishvili (1961) 8.4
  44. Robert Rauschenberg 1925–2008 – Pop Art Pioneer Full BBC Documentary (2016)
  45. Paula Rego 1935 – Giving Fear a Face (2018)
  46. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn 1606–1669 – Rembrandt’s J’Accuse (2008)
  47. Bridget Riley 1931 – OP ART: (1970)
  48. Bridget Riley 1931 – Bridget Riley | In Conversation with Sir John Leighton
  49. Rachel Ruysch 1664–1750 – Painter of the court and mother of 10 | National Gallery
  50. Cindy Sherman 1954 – Nobody’s Here But Me (1994) BBC Documentary
  51. Ushio and Noriko Shinohara 1932 – Cutie and the Boxer (2013)
  52. Johannes Vermeer 1632–1675 – Tim’s Vermeer (2013)
  53. Élizabeth Vigée Le Brun 1755–1842 – BAC Lecture: The Works of Elizabeth Vigee-LeBrun (2016)
  54. Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun 1755–1842 – Painting royalty, fleeing revolution | National Gallery
  55. Leonardo da Vinci 1452–1519 – Inside the Mind of Leonardo (2013)
  56. Andy Warhol 1928–1987 – Andy Warhol (1987)
  57. Andy Warhol 1928–1987 – Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1990) Documentary
  58. Andy Warhol 1928–1987 – Andy Warhol Documentary Film Part 1 of 2
  59. Andy Warhol 1928–1987 – Andy Warhol A Documentary Film Part 2 of 2
  60. Andy Warhol 1928–1987 – Andy Warhol (1972)
  61. Rachel Whiteread 1963 – Interview Pt 1 (2011)
  62. Rachel Whiteread 1963 – Interview – Pt 2 (20011)

Documentaries about groups of artists

New York Art Scene between 1940-1970 – Painters Painting (1972)
The Challenge… A Tribute to Modern Art (1975)
Masters of Modern Sculpture Part II: Beyond Cubism (1978)
The Art of Cornwall Documentary
A Woman’s Touch: The National Museum of Women in the Arts

Please check out my blog, where I list all the films about artists and films about art, artists and art scenes.