Art and Craft is the story of the charismatic, complex Mark Landis, perhaps the most prolific art forger in US history.
ABOUT
Synopsis
Mark Landis has been called one of the most prolific art forgers in US history. His impressive body of work spans thirty years, covering a wide range of painting styles and periods that includes 15th Century Icons, Picasso, and even Walt Disney. And while the copies could fetch impressive sums on the open market, Landis isn’t in it for money. Posing as a philanthropic donor, a grieving executor of a family member’s will, and most recently as a Jesuit priest, Landis has given away hundreds of works over the years to a staggering list of institutions across the United States. But after duping Matthew Leininger, a tenacious registrar who ultimately discovers the decades-long ruse and sets out to expose his philanthropic escapades to the art world, Landis must confront his own legacy and a chorus of museum professionals clamoring for him to stop. ,Art and Craft starts out as a cat-and-mouse art caper, rooted in questions of authorship and authenticity—but what emerges is an intimate story of obsession and the universal need for community, appreciation, and purpose.
FILMMAKERS
Sam Cullman
Sam Cullman co-directed, shot and produced the Oscar®-nominated documentary, If A Tree Falls and was a Producer and Director of Photography on the Sundance Grand Jury prize-winning The House I Live In. Previously, his camerawork appeared in dozens of documentaries including King Corn and Why We Fight.
Jennifer Grausman
Jennifer Grausman directed and produced the Emmy-nominated documentary, Pressure Cooker. Grausman also co-produced 3 Backyards, and produced six short films. Previously she was the Manager of Exhibition and Film Funding at The Museum of Modern Art.
REVIEWS
IF YOU LIKE ART AND CRAFT