Written by Shanice Bailey

Commissioned by the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art for its first annual “Art + Film Gala” and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman of ‘Catfish’ fame, this now viral video is a humorous six-minute history of conceptual artist and gala honoree John Baldessari.

The film uses Baldessari’s signature style to combine the artist’s life history and career highlights with seemingly mundane, infinitely charming glimpses into his everyday life – “These are John Baldessari’s push pins. This is John Baldessari’s wifi password”. Specifically requested by Baldessari to narrate the piece, Tom Waits spits rapid-fire trivia about the artist to an lively musical score and dizzying conglomeration of photographs, film clips, and typography interspersed with personal commentary from the artist. Throughout the video, the viewer is inundated with witty and vaguely wry “fun facts” about the artist:

– John can be instantly recognized by his big, beautiful beard.
– In a hundred years, John Baldessari suspects that he’ll be best remembered as ‘the guy who put dots over peoples’ faces
– John Baldessari is so successful that he carries nothing in his pockets.

Enjoy!