Aliza Nisenbaum: Painting from Life

  • Director

    Ian Forster

  • Country, Year, Length

    United States, 2023, 13:58

  • Category

    Documentary Short

  • Format

    Digital UHD

  • Festival Year

    2025

Synopsis

Culminating with the opening of Nisenbaum’s Queens Museum exhibition Queens, Lindo y Querido, this film follows the development of Nisenbaum’s observational portraiture and highlights the power of a socially engaged art practice to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities.

Film Screening & Ticket Information

When & Where to See this Film!

…COMING SOON…

Film Information

From the Director

Director Statement

Much like Aliza Nisenbaum’s paintings, this film is the result of relationships that grew over many years. Art21 first filmed Aliza with Veronica and her daughter Marissa in 2013. Now filming with the trio again a decade later, we can see how Aliza’s painting practice has evolved and how community-based art practices have affected all three of their lives in profound ways.

Director Biography

Since 2009, director and producer Ian Forster has been a core part of the production team at Art21, the long-running and celebrated documentary non-profit organization. Ian first worked on the Peabody Award-winning film “William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible” and then five seasons of Art21’s flagship PBS documentary project “Art in the Twenty-First Century.” Most recently he directed the series’ “London” and “Johannesburg” episodes. He has overseen Art21’s digital series “Extended Play” since 2012 and has produced over one hundred short artist portraits, featuring some of the most acclaimed and innovative artists working today, including Anish Kapoor and Kara Walker. His films have screened at festivals internationally, including DC Shorts, DOC NYC, and Artecinema.

Credits

    • Ian Forster
      Director
      “Art in the 21st Century: London” (PBS)
    • Aliza Nisenbaum
      Key Cast
    • Art21
      Production Company
      “Art in the Twenty First Century,” PBS broadcast documentary series honored with multiple Peabody Awards (2001 – Current); “Extended Play” and “New York Close Up” documentary shorts series honored with multiple Webby Award Nominations and Vimeo Staff Picks and over 100 film festival acceptances including Big Sky, BlackStar, Brooklyn Film Festival, DC Shorts, DOC NYC, Full Frame, Miami, Outfest Fusion and Rhode Island Flickers International film festivals.
    • Andrea Cruz
      Editor