As one art scene insider proclaims, the contemporary art world can be summed up as “rich people trying to prove how rich they are,” but is that all there is to this billion dollar industry? Well-researched and expertly constructed, Barry Avrich’s eye-opening documentary peels back the layers of the art world economy- from production to circulation, and delineates every integral player in the game of art-making, including curators, gallerists, collectors, donors, auction houses, and … artists. In the process, he unpacks the complex and surprising ecosystem that supports the art world superstars and million-dollar deals that make front-page news. Featuring extraordinary access to industry players and candid statements from prominent artists like Damien Hirst, Julian Schnabel, Taryn Simon, and Marina Abramovic, Blurred Lines collides the two narratives of the art world as both above and beholden to market forces.
as Himself
as Self - Artist
as Self - Director of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie's
as Self - Collector (archive footage)
as Self - Chairman, Executive Vice President, Sotheby's
as Self - Auctioneer
as Self - Chairman, North and South America, Sotheby's
as Self - Worldwide Head of Contemporary Art, Phillips
as Self - Artist (archive footage)