“Truly excels in its depiction of the physical process of making art. Mesmerizing.
(Close’s) technique somehow combines uncanny intimacy and intellectual distance, much like Ms. Cajori’s spendid movie.”
– Matt Zoller Seitz, The New York Times


Refreshingly intellectual. A strangely absorbing spectacle. If you are even remotely interested in the art world, this is a must-see.”
– Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out NY

“An open, vivid symposium on not just Close’s career, but that of many artists of the same vintage: Kiki Smith, Philip Glass,
Robert Rauschenberg, and Brice Marden speak eloquently about Close, but Cajori goes further,
constructing a primer on the work of those individuals as well, who define their own aesthetics by setting themselves in relief to Close.”
– Michelle Orange, Village Voice

“Don’t miss CHUCK CLOSE, a new documentary… that provides insight into the process of one of the art world’s superstars.”
– Angela Ashman, Village Voice

“Magisterial. A major contribution from a cinematic master at the height of her powers.
Inventive, endlessly fascinating. Tech credits are superb!”
– Ronnie Scheib, Variety

“Arguably the world’s greatest living portraitist. Fascinating. An immense talent. Surprisingly fun, thanks to the
ever-changing soundtrack and the magical transformation that takes place on the canvas during the course of three months.
Cajori’s keen visual sense helps too – her framing is excellent, and the camera whips from Mr. Close’s palette
to the canvas with a puppy-dog curiosity.”
– Darrell Hartman, The New York Sun

CHUCK CLOSE, AN ASTOUNDING PORTRAIT of one of the world’s leading contemporary painters, was one of two parting gifts (her second is a film on Louise Bourgeois) from Marion Cajori, a filmmaker who died recently, and before her time. With editing completed by filmmaker Ken Kobland, CHUCK CLOSE limns the life and work of a man who has reinvented portraiture. Close photographs his subjects, blows up the image to gigantic proportions, divides it into a detailed grid and then uses a complex set of colors and patterning to reconstruct each face. The genius of this film is not only to allow the artist to illuminate his methodology (he is wonderfully articulate), but also to feature his friends and colleagues (Brice Marden, Robert Storr, Dorothea Rockburne, Philip Glass, Arne Glimcher, Kiki Smith, Elizabeth Murray, Alex Katz, Kirk Varnedoe, among others) who make important contributions to appreciating Close’s gifts.

USA • 2007 • 116 Minutes • Art Kaleidoscope Foundation

Links:

• Official Website for the film

Available at Amazon:

CHUCK CLOSE: WORK, by Christopher Finch
VENDOR: Prestel Publishing


CHUCK CLOSE: A FLIPBOOK