Marla Olmstead: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American artist (born 2000)}} |
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'''Marla Olmstead''' (born 2000 in [[Binghamton]], [[New York]]) is a [[artist|painter]] of [[abstract art]]. By 2004 she had attracted international media attention.<ref name=mykid>''[[My Kid Could Paint That]]'' [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912592/] , Film, Dir: Amir Bar-Lev, 2007.</ref> Abstract pieces attributed to her have been as large as five feet (1.52 m) square and have sold for tens of thousands of US dollars.<ref name=mykid>''[[My Kid Could Paint That]]'' Director: Amir Bar-Lev; 2007</ref> |
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{{Infobox person |
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| name = Marla Olmstead |
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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|2000}} |
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| birth_place =[[Binghamton]], [[New York (state)|New York]] |
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| occupation = Artist |
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| parents = Laura and Mark Olmstead |
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}} |
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'''Marla Olmstead''' (born 2000 in [[Binghamton]], [[New York (state)|New York]]) is a [[artist|painter]] of [[abstract art]] who, by the age of four, caught international media attention for work purportedly hers. Abstract artworks painted by her have been as large as five feet (1.52 m) square and have sold for tens of thousands of US dollars.<ref name=mykid>''[[My Kid Could Paint That]]'' Director: Amir Bar-Lev, 2007</ref> A 2005 ''[[60 Minutes II]]'' story on Olmstead that first brought her publicity led to speculation that the works supposedly created by Marla were in fact created in collaboration with her father,<ref name=60Minutes>Leung, Rebecca. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-questions-about-child-prodigy-22-02-2005/ New Questions About Child Prodigy: Charlie Rose Reports On 4-Year-Old Artist Marla Olmstead], ''[[60 Minutes II]]'', February 23, 2005</ref> which was further examined in the 2007 documentary on her, ''[[My Kid Could Paint That]]''. |
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==Painting career== |
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According to her |
According to her [[parent]]s, Marla Olmstead began painting just before her second birthday in early 2002 when her father, Mark, gave her paint to divert her from distracting him from his own painting. Mark painted for a very brief period after his father died, and makes no claims of being an artist of any variety.<ref name=BBC>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3701484.stm Child art prodigy wows New York] ''[[BBC News]]'', 29 September 2004.</ref> Eventually, her work was on display at a local [[café|coffee shop]]. Soon after a customer bought one of the paintings for $253, a local gallery owner was shown one of her works and eventually organized a show at his gallery. From that point forward, Olmstead's paintings began to sell frequently.<ref name=NYT>York, Michelle (September 28, 2004). [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70E16FA3C5C0C7B8EDDA00894DC404482 "A Portrait Of the Artist As a Young Girl: Early Ability on Abstracts: 4-Year-Old Paints With Flair"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> |
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In 2013, she gave an interview at "The Intersection", which is a one-day gathering of innovative thinkers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://intersectionevent.com/blog/speakers/marla-olmstead/|title=Marla Olmstead: Artist|publisher=People The Intersection 2013|accessdate=May 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531001804/http://intersectionevent.com/blog/speakers/marla-olmstead/|archivedate=May 31, 2015}}</ref> |
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To many critics, what is most impressive about her work is her ability to paint in layers and to fill the canvas, instead of painting in one layer and leaving most of the canvas blank, like other four-year olds. Her skill is so great that critics and media alike have drawn comparisons to abstract artists [[Wassily Kandinsky]] and [[Jackson Pollock]].<ref name=BBC /> She has attracted media attention from ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine, [[CBS News]], and [[BBC News]]. |
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The skill demonstrated in the paintings has prompted critics and media to draw comparisons to abstract artists [[Wassily Kandinsky]] and [[Jackson Pollock]].<ref name=BBC/> Marla has attracted media attention from ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine.<ref>Sachs, Andrea (September 6, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20061126051512/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1532087,00.html "The Downside of Being a Child Prodigy"], ''[[Time magazine|Time]]''</ref><ref>Caplan, Jeremy. (November 8, 2004) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080309004034/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995547,00.html "Pint-Size Picassos"]. ''Time''</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In February 2005, a report by [[CBS News]]' ''[[60 Minutes II]]'' raised questions about whether Marla created the paintings on her own. ''60 Minutes'' enlisted the help of Ellen Winner, a child [[psychologist]] who studies cognition in the arts and gifted children. Winner was impressed with Marla's work, and indicated that Marla was the first child prodigy she'd seen paint abstractly. The Olmsteads agreed to permit CBS crews to set up a hidden camera in their home to tape their daughter painting a single piece in five hours over the course of a month. When Winner reviewed the tapes, the psychologist said, "I saw no evidence that she was a child prodigy in painting. I saw a normal, charming, adorable child painting the way preschool children paint, except that she had a coach who kept her going." Winner also indicated that the painting created |
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| ⚫ | The 2007 documentary ''[[My Kid Could Paint That]],'' by director [[Amir Bar-Lev]], examines Marla Olmstead, her family, and the controversy surrounding the art attributed to her. The film does not |
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| ⚫ | In February 2005, a report by [[CBS News]]' ''[[60 Minutes II]]'' raised questions about whether Marla created the paintings on her own. ''60 Minutes'' enlisted the help of [[Ellen Winner]], a child [[psychologist]] who studies cognition in the arts and gifted children. Winner was impressed with Marla's work, and indicated that Marla was the first child prodigy she'd seen paint abstractly. The Olmsteads agreed to permit CBS crews to set up a hidden camera in their home to tape their daughter painting a single piece in five hours over the course of a month. When Winner reviewed the tapes, the psychologist said, "I saw no evidence that she was a child prodigy in painting. I saw a normal, charming, adorable child painting the way preschool children paint, except that she had a coach who kept her going." Winner also indicated that the painting created after CBS's hidden camera looked "less polished than some of Marla's previous works."<ref name=60Minutes/> |
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| ⚫ | The 2007 documentary ''[[My Kid Could Paint That]],'' by director [[Amir Bar-Lev]], examines Marla Olmstead, her family, and the controversy surrounding the art attributed to her. The film does not explicitly take a position on the question of her works' authenticity, but Bar-Lev is heard during his interviews of Marla's parents and in a piece included as an extra on the DVD expressing doubts about whether Marla created the paintings herself. It includes excerpts from start-to-finish videos of two of Marla's works and questions whether the two works, the ''60 Minutes'' painting (known as "Flowers") and "Ocean," are of the same quality as other works attributed to her. After Bar-Lev expressed these doubts and began filming Marla to capture her painting a work of similar quality to paintings previously sold in her name, she is seen repeatedly asking her father to help her paint a face on the painting or paint it himself - the exchange taking place during playful [[banter]] between Marla and her father. |
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==Present== |
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Despite the negative publicity, work attributed to Marla Olmstead's remains in demand. The painting that Marla unwittingly created before a hidden camera sold for $9,000. |
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The Olmsteads did not attend the film's official premiere, having felt that Bar-Lev, who doubts that Olmstead created the paintings attributed to her, made editing choices that portrayed them in bad light. In December 2015, 15-year-old Olmstead stated that she had never seen the film, and had no intention of doing so, saying, "I don’t want to watch things on myself." She and her brother did see the film's trailer, and found it "a bit ridiculous and funny", in particular a shot of Laura tearing as she said, "What have I done to my children?"<ref name=USAToday>Basler, George (December 27, 2015). [http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2015/12/27/catching-up-child-art-prodigy-marla-olmstead/77668896/ "Catching up with child art prodigy Marla Olmstead"]. ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref> |
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As of October 2007, the Olmsteads' own website offered excerpts from start-to-finish videos of three works by her, "Fairy Map", "Rabbit" and, "Colorful Rain." According to the website, the full versions of the videos are available to collectors and the press. As of August 2008, two of the three works featured in the videos, "Rabbit," and "Colorful Rain," remain unsold. |
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Marla's parents have stated that proceeds from the sale of her paintings have gone into a college fund.<ref name=mykid>''[[My Kid Could Paint That]]'' [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912592/] , Film, Dir: Amir Bar-Lev, 2007</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{official website|http://www.marlaolmstead.com}} |
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* Fineman, Mia (October 5, 2007). [http://www.slate.com/id/2175311/ "My Kid Could Paint That: Does Marla Olmstead's work belong in a museum or on the fridge?"] ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' |
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* Harvey, Doug (October 10, 2007). [http://www.laweekly.com/2007-10-11/art-books/marla-vs-pollock-who-s-the-fraudiest "Marla vs. Pollock: Who’s the Fraudiest?"] ''LA Weekly'' |
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{{Authority control}} |
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* [http://www.marlaolmstead.com Marla Olmstead's website] |
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* [http://www.anthonybrunelli.com/finearts.html Anthony Brunelli's gallery] contains several of Marla's pieces (click on artists and then scroll to the right to find Marla's work) |
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* [http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/nyc-loft.asp Ode to Pollock II] at painterskeys.com (scroll down for the piece) |
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* [http://www.slate.com/id/2175311/ Can a 4-year-old paint like Pollock] Mia Fineman's ''Slate Magazine'' article on what it means when a child like Marla produces abstract art |
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* [http://www.laweekly.com/art+books/art/marla-vs-pollock-whos-the-fraudiest/17432/ Doug Harvey's ''LA Weekly'' article on Amir Bar-Lev's documentary "My Kid Could Paint That"] |
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| ⚫ | * [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/COMMENTARY/71115003 |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Olmstead, Marla}} |
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[[Category:Abstract expressionist artists]] |
[[Category:Abstract expressionist artists]] |
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[[Category:Artists from Binghamton, New York]] |
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[[Category:American children]] |
[[Category:American children]] |
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[[Category:2000 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Child artists]] |
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[[Category:21st-century American women painters]] |
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[[Category:21st-century American painters]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:26, 12 October 2024
Marla Olmstead | |
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| Born | 2000 (age 23–24) |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Parent(s) | Laura and Mark Olmstead |
Marla Olmstead (born 2000 in Binghamton, New York) is a painter of abstract art who, by the age of four, caught international media attention for work purportedly hers. Abstract artworks painted by her have been as large as five feet (1.52 m) square and have sold for tens of thousands of US dollars.[1] A 2005 60 Minutes II story on Olmstead that first brought her publicity led to speculation that the works supposedly created by Marla were in fact created in collaboration with her father,[2] which was further examined in the 2007 documentary on her, My Kid Could Paint That.
Painting career
[edit]According to her parents, Marla Olmstead began painting just before her second birthday in early 2002 when her father, Mark, gave her paint to divert her from distracting him from his own painting. Mark painted for a very brief period after his father died, and makes no claims of being an artist of any variety.[3] Eventually, her work was on display at a local coffee shop. Soon after a customer bought one of the paintings for $253, a local gallery owner was shown one of her works and eventually organized a show at his gallery. From that point forward, Olmstead's paintings began to sell frequently.[4]
In 2013, she gave an interview at "The Intersection", which is a one-day gathering of innovative thinkers.[5]
Media attention
[edit]Her work increased in popularity after her first gallery showing, with many of the paintings selling for tens of thousands of US dollars.
The skill demonstrated in the paintings has prompted critics and media to draw comparisons to abstract artists Wassily Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock.[3] Marla has attracted media attention from The New York Times and Time magazine.[6][7]
Controversy
[edit]In February 2005, a report by CBS News' 60 Minutes II raised questions about whether Marla created the paintings on her own. 60 Minutes enlisted the help of Ellen Winner, a child psychologist who studies cognition in the arts and gifted children. Winner was impressed with Marla's work, and indicated that Marla was the first child prodigy she'd seen paint abstractly. The Olmsteads agreed to permit CBS crews to set up a hidden camera in their home to tape their daughter painting a single piece in five hours over the course of a month. When Winner reviewed the tapes, the psychologist said, "I saw no evidence that she was a child prodigy in painting. I saw a normal, charming, adorable child painting the way preschool children paint, except that she had a coach who kept her going." Winner also indicated that the painting created after CBS's hidden camera looked "less polished than some of Marla's previous works."[2]
The 2007 documentary My Kid Could Paint That, by director Amir Bar-Lev, examines Marla Olmstead, her family, and the controversy surrounding the art attributed to her. The film does not explicitly take a position on the question of her works' authenticity, but Bar-Lev is heard during his interviews of Marla's parents and in a piece included as an extra on the DVD expressing doubts about whether Marla created the paintings herself. It includes excerpts from start-to-finish videos of two of Marla's works and questions whether the two works, the 60 Minutes painting (known as "Flowers") and "Ocean," are of the same quality as other works attributed to her. After Bar-Lev expressed these doubts and began filming Marla to capture her painting a work of similar quality to paintings previously sold in her name, she is seen repeatedly asking her father to help her paint a face on the painting or paint it himself - the exchange taking place during playful banter between Marla and her father.
The Olmsteads did not attend the film's official premiere, having felt that Bar-Lev, who doubts that Olmstead created the paintings attributed to her, made editing choices that portrayed them in bad light. In December 2015, 15-year-old Olmstead stated that she had never seen the film, and had no intention of doing so, saying, "I don’t want to watch things on myself." She and her brother did see the film's trailer, and found it "a bit ridiculous and funny", in particular a shot of Laura tearing as she said, "What have I done to my children?"[8]
References
[edit]- ^ My Kid Could Paint That Director: Amir Bar-Lev, 2007
- ^ a b Leung, Rebecca. New Questions About Child Prodigy: Charlie Rose Reports On 4-Year-Old Artist Marla Olmstead, 60 Minutes II, February 23, 2005
- ^ a b Child art prodigy wows New York BBC News, 29 September 2004.
- ^ York, Michelle (September 28, 2004). "A Portrait Of the Artist As a Young Girl: Early Ability on Abstracts: 4-Year-Old Paints With Flair". The New York Times.
- ^ "Marla Olmstead: Artist". People The Intersection 2013. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ^ Sachs, Andrea (September 6, 2006). "The Downside of Being a Child Prodigy", Time
- ^ Caplan, Jeremy. (November 8, 2004) "Pint-Size Picassos". Time
- ^ Basler, George (December 27, 2015). "Catching up with child art prodigy Marla Olmstead". USA Today.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Harvey, Doug (July 19, 2006). "Prodigy Schmodigy". LA Weekly
- Fineman, Mia (October 5, 2007). "My Kid Could Paint That: Does Marla Olmstead's work belong in a museum or on the fridge?" Slate
- Harvey, Doug (October 10, 2007). "Marla vs. Pollock: Who’s the Fraudiest?" LA Weekly
- Ebert, Roger (November 15, 2007). "Portrait of the artist as a cherished child", RogerEbert.com.
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