Smriti Malhotra
Many Hollywood actors transition into becoming artists which reflects their ongoing endeavour in pursuing diverse creative fields. This foray into art is also reflective of their yearning to seek creative and artistic fulfilment beyond simply acting. These known and popular actors while expressing themselves through their art transcend beyond their on-screen personas. In this article, we shall explore 11 such Hollywood actors turned artists who have pursued artistic endeavours other than acting.
1.Pierce Brosnan: Renowned for his portrayal of James Bond in films such as Die Another Day and Golden Eye is all set to host his first solo exhibition at Los Angeles. He immersed himself in his artworks and painting, tracing his Irish heritage and connecting that to his interest in the natural world. His artworks reflect his Irish ancestry, depicting his longing for that world merged with the beautiful symphony of nature and its elements.
Abir Pothi recently covered this news in its portal as well, you can read that article here, you may also checkout his artworks at https://www.piercebrosnan.com/artist/
2. Jim Carrey, known for his comedic roles showcased in cult movies such as The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective started his art journey to discover a more spiritual side of himself. He expressed his inner workings and philosophical musing vis-a-via his artworks. His art is reflective of self-expression, existentialism, identity, exploring the meaning of life. He has an online presence and website that showcases his journey as an artist and his artworks and an instagram handle by the name of Jim Carrey Art Gallery that presents his paintings to his fans/audience. You can find the handle here
3. Lucy Liu, she is a skilled artist who was an artist before she forayed into the realm of acting and gained popularity. We have seen her in movies such as Charlie’s Angels and television series Elementary, but are you aware of her beautiful artworks? She incorporates elements of calligraphy, mixed media and other artistic expressions in her abstract works of art. She has exhibited at the National Museum of Singapore for the first time in a two-person show in 2019. You can gauge her interest in art and her artworks on her official website here
4. Sylvester Stallone, another legendary actor known for his portrayal of a boxing star in the Rocky series, is also an accomplished painter and artist. He makes abstract pieces and artworks littered with black and white figures. His work has evolved over the decades and his inspirations are Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquait and Francis Bacon. You can go through some of his artworks in an extensive article on Artsy, over here
5. Viggo Mortensen claims that being an artist is “just a way of living” for him. He isn’t simply a painter, he is also a talented poet and photographer. Again, an abstract artist that merges all his artistic sensibilities in his artworks, his works are layered and unique. He has actively channelled his artistic pursuits well and continues to evolve as an artiste!
6. Anthony Hopkins, the Oscar winning actor who is famous for his role of Hannible Lecter in the Silence of the Lambs is a skilled painter and has been making paintings of figures, nature and landscapes for decades. His artworks contemplate the natural world with a sense of self-introspection. He unveils various hidden meanings and narratives with every layered brushstroke. You may see some of his beautiful works of art on his official website here.
7. Tilda Swinton, the versatile actor who is always a treat to watch onscreen is also an accomplished artist working on various mediums to achieve her true artistic self and express herself via performance, curating and sculpting. She engages in many performance art pieces at renowned art institutions such as the MoMa. Just like her visceral performances onscreen, Swinton always ceases to amaze her audience even through her ‘art performances’.
8. Jemima Kirke, is a trained artist with her BFA in painting from Rhode School of Design and 2 exhibitions under her belt. She is a hidden gem who is an artist in the truest sense indulging in making portraits, incorporating the psyche in her paintings and artworks. Jemima is known for her portrayal of a young girl in the hit HBO series ‘Girls’ has often asked her co-actors or sister to be her muses for her paintings evoking a sense of longing in their beautifully depicted eyes. She has appeared in a series called Artfortwo by Google Arts and Culture, wherein she spoke about her favourite pieces in the Met Museum during the lockdown and keep the artworld relevant during such a trying time. You can get watch the video here
9. Billy Dee Williams, also known as Lando Calrissian who appeared in the original Star Wars Trilogy is an artist and has his artworks in many public and private collections. His artworks are auctioned off which have figures of celebrities, self-portraits and even historical figures that people love having in their collections. Speaking of self-portrait, he has his portrait in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. You can see the portrait here
10. Sir Paul McCartney, the bassist and co-vocalist of the famous band Beatles is also an artist. His works have been accumulated and displayed by various international institutions over the years. His works on canvas are a respite from his fame-fueled life and is another way for the musician to express his artistic pursuits and inclinations. His artworks have been auctioned over the years and continues to fascinate his fans and audience.
11. Brad Pitt, the Hollywood heartthrob and mega star Brad Pitt is a surprisingly brilliant Sculptor. The A-listed actor last year displayed his 9 sculptures at a group exhibition in Finland. The actor made a debut at the gallery in Finland, and stated, “for me it’s about self reflection… It was born out of ownership over what I call a ‘radical inventory of the self’. And getting really brutally honest with me and taking account of those I may have hurt and the moments I’ve just gotten wrong,” at the exhibition. You may read more about the same and feast your eyes on his artworks in the article given here.
