Mark Landis has been called one of the most prolific art forgers in US history. His impressive body of work spans thirty years
While the copies could fetch impressive sums on the open market, Landis isn’t in it for money, but instead donates his fakes to museums across the country. Landis is a diagnosed schizophrenic whose elaborate con is also a means to cultivate connection and respect – feeding what he now understands as an outright “addiction to philanthropy.”
Art and Craft starts out as an art caper, rooted in questions of authorship and authenticity. What emerges is an unflinching exploration of life with mental illness and the universal need for community, appreciation, and purpose.
Reviews
Rich and fascinating... it’s got a crisp pace and a deadpan playfulness, telling a too-good-to-be-true story with humor and empathyTribeca Film Festival
A crowd-pleasing character study that doubles as an art-world detective story.Wall Street Journal