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.
Rashid Johnson
Himself
Marina Abramović
Self - Artist
Katherine Arnold
Self - Director of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie's
Leon Black
Self - Collector (archive footage)
Amy Cappellazzo
Self - Chairman, Executive Vice President, Sotheby's
Simon de Pury
Self - Auctioneer
Lisa Dennison
Self - Chairman, North and South America, Sotheby's
Jean Paul Engelen
Self - Worldwide Head of Contemporary Art, Phillips
