Mary Heilmann: Inspiration | Art21 "Exclusive"

Episode #079: In her Long Island studio, Mary Heilmann discusses two inspirations for her work: tea bowls that adhere to the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of "Wabi-sabi" and the cartoon color pallette used in "The Simpsons" television show. Heilmann contrasts her working method with that of the Abtract Expressionists, preferring to find "the easiest way to do it" which often involves thinking through the compositions and colors with a computer. The video features ceramics and paintings installed as part of the artist's traveling retrospective "To Be Someone" at the New Museum and the Wexner Center for the Arts.

For every piece of Mary Heilmann's work—abstract paintings, ceramics, and furniture—there is a backstory. Imbued with recollections, stories spun from her imagination, and references to music, aesthetic influences, and dreams, her paintings are like meditations or icons. Her compositions are often hybrid spatial environments that juxtapose two- and three-dimensional renderings in a single frame, join several canvases into new works, or create diptychs of paintings and photographs in the form of prints, slideshows, and videos. Heilmann sometimes installs her paintings alongside chairs and benches that she builds by hand, an open invitation for viewers to socialize and contemplate her work communally.

Learn more about Mary Heilmann: http://www.art21.org/artists/mary-heilmann

VIDEO | Producer: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Interview: Susan Sollins. Camera: Mark Falstad & Joel Shapiro. Sound: Roger Phenix. Editor: Paulo Padilha & Mark Sutton. Artwork Courtesy: Mary Heilmann. Special Thanks: Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, & The New Museum, New York.

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Entertainment

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• abstract
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• fantasy
• imagination

[HenhousetheRed]

I don't believe there is a "type" of art that requires no skill, rather, there are artists who have varying degrees of taste. Some artists are satisfied with great effort and spend years refining the ability to render reality perfectly. Others are satisfied with simplicity and don't need to make monumental paintings to get the message across. Who's to say it takes no imagination? Sometimes the bravest thing we can do in this world today is just stand still.

[bunz11]

Even if you think she has no talent, that doesn't make her a bitch.

[cmypaintings]

what's wrong if there is "no skills"? infact it is more difficult to get something out with "no skills"! that is what we artist trying to do ... get it out from our sub-concious mind. People whom you think got "skills" - they are just painter, not artist.

[cmypaintings]

what's wrong if there is "no skills"? infact it is more difficult to get something out with "no skills"! that is what we artist trying to do ... get it out from our sub-concious mind.

[simontempleman]

she knows whats up, good bitch.

[quenchedinlife]

The Simpsons fucking suck

[ScrapedfromSealings]

Where did you study art at? I want to know so I can burn the place ot the ground.

[sweatNitout]

Well, believe it because what she does requires no skill. To believe otherwise means either you are in denial about it(if so then why) or you have never painted yourself. There is no difference between her art and what young children do.

Watch the full episode if you can and see what little effort she puts in to her pieces. Every drip or smudge is not a mistake- it's "post modern".

It is a joke. That's what it is.

[sweatNitout]

her version of art requires no skill and very little imagination.

the National Endoumeant for the Arts increased it's annual budget by 12.5 mil.