Art for Everybody

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Art for Everybody

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1h 38m

Documentary

Biography

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You've seen his cozy cottages, idyllic gardens, and welcoming village streets on everything from canvas to commemorative plates. Both celebrated and disparaged for his kitschy signature settings, the "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade rocketed to popularity in the '90s by marketing himself to American evangelicals and pitting himself against the elite art establishment. Yet beneath the pristine public persona were demons that would drive him to alcoholism, scandal, and death from an overdose in 2012. After his passing, Kinkade's daughters uncovered a trove of unseen, unexpectedly dark paintings, a discovery that launched an investigation into their father's true personality. Through the voices of skeptical critics, adoring fans, and Kinkade's closest friends and family, ART FOR EVERYBODY digs deep into Kinkade's life and work to elucidate the real man behind the persona. Accomplished editor Miranda Yousef's directorial debut is an insightful documentary that peels back the layers of Kinkade's façade, delivering a portrait of a complex man divided by the same forces that continue to pull us apart as a nation.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

The centerpiece of the film is the Kinkade daughters’ posthumous discovery of a vault that houses a trove of their father’s unseen, artistically challenging work, much of which shows an underside that few people knew — or could have ever imagined.

Apr 21, 2025

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Peter Debruge

Variety

Yousef’s illuminating doc appeals to all sides, from Kinkade’s haters to his most ardent defenders, revealing dimensions altogether absent from his enormously popular oeuvre.

Apr 1, 2025

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

A thoroughly fascinating documentary about a family discovering the depth and complexity of their patriarch while coming to terms with his flaws.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 28, 2025

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Yousef gradually introduces those wrinkles, so what at first seems a stock portrait of a cloying success story has by the end turned into something of a nightmare. It’s an absorbing look at a man whose contradictions can’t be reconciled.

Jul 4, 2025

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Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

Art for Everybody is instead a reflection on what art can bring to a person and a life, its power to connect people and provide a reprieve from the woes of the world.

Apr 22, 2025

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Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

While biographical docs have an inherent ceiling, Yousef does her best to overcome those issues. With an eclectic group of commentators and those who knew him best, Art is For Everybody provides a thorough portrait of Thomas Kinkade’s life and struggles.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 18, 2025

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Karen d

While the subject of this film certainly had imperfections — as all complex figures do — the movie’s relentless focus on shortcomings felt unbalanced. In choosing to highlight mostly the negative, the filmmakers missed an opportunity to present a fuller, more honest portrait that includes the good he produced alongside his flaws. True storytelling demands nuance, but this depiction leaned heavily toward critique without offering the necessary context or acknowledgment of his many contributions. A more even-handed approach would have made for a richer, more meaningful experience. This is a typical thank you from a client received over and over again Hi Karen, We were so delighted when we received ‘The Cottage’ yesterday! Absolutely beautiful! I told my wife it reminded me of her and our daughter picking flowers for arrangements in our own home . . . It brought tears of joy to both of us! It’s truly amazing . . . It looks so much better and more impactful than photos . . . Thank you so much for thinking of us and making our dreams a reality! With love, Stan & Rose ++++++++++++++++I speak from 25 years of selling Thomas Kinkade which the public *LOVE,* Karen's Kinkade Art store

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Miranda Yousef

Director

Morgan Neville

Producer

Tim Rummel

Producer

Jessamine Burgum

Executive Producer

Kara Durrett

Executive Producer

Bill Way

Executive Producer

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Art for Everybody: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

You've seen his cozy cottages, idyllic gardens, and welcoming village streets on everything from canvas to commemorative plates. Both celebrated and disparaged for his kitschy signature settings, the "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade rocketed to popularity in the '90s by marketing himself to American evangelicals and pitting himself against the elite art establishment. Yet beneath the pristine public persona were demons that would drive him to alcoholism, scandal, and death from an overdose in 2012. After his passing, Kinkade's daughters uncovered a trove of unseen, unexpectedly dark paintings, a discovery that launched an investigation into their father's true personality. Through the voices of skeptical critics, adoring fans, and Kinkade's closest friends and family, ART FOR EVERYBODY digs deep into Kinkade's life and work to elucidate the real man behind the persona. Accomplished editor Miranda Yousef's directorial debut is an insightful documentary that peels back the layers of Kinkade's façade, delivering a portrait of a complex man divided by the same forces that continue to pull us apart as a nation.

Director: Miranda Yousef
Producer: Morgan Neville, Tim Rummel
Distributor: Fourth Act Film
Production Co: The Harnisch Foundation, XRM Media, Whitewater Films, Fit Via Vi Film Productions, Cinosure, Tremolo Productions, Pinky Promise
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 38m