Everyday Icons
Four contemporary artists breathe new life into some of humanity's oldest artforms, icons and monuments, creating paintings, sculptures, and films out of everyday objects and popular culture. Featuring Michelle Obama portrait painter Amy Sherald.
Previews + Extras
Extended Preview
S11 E1 - 3m 32s
Twelve of America's most innovative artists rise to the challenge of our current moment, creating new paintings, sculptures, films, and performances that inspire and heal. Featuring Michelle Obama portraitist Amy Sherald.
Artist Amy Sherald's Painting Process
S11 E1 - 2m 4s
Artist Amy Sherald invites two models into her studio in Jersey City, NJ, to help her visualize her painting, "For love, and for country." Sherald has the models imitating the pose in Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous black-and-white photo "V-J Day in Times Square." The artist explains that taking photographs of models serves as her sketchbook, where she figures out what she wants in her painting.
How Daniel Lind-Ramos Sources Materials for His Sculptures
S11 E1 - 53s
In his studio in Loíza, Puerto Rico, artist Daniel Lind-Ramos uses found materials to create his sculpture, "María Guabancex," inspired by the artist's experience with Hurricane Maria. Lind-Ramos explains that he often finds materials related to the narrative he's trying to organize and lets the materials activate his imagination.
How Artist Rose B. Simpson Brings Her Sculptures to Life
S11 E1 - 1m 12s
Artist Rose B. Simpson is working on sculptures in her studio in Santa Clara Pueblo, NM. She explains that by using clay that's really thin, she has to be present with the process and finish it the day she starts it. She likes using clay in different colors together in the same piece, not only for the aesthetics but also to pay homage to the fact that we are all made up of many different things.
Artist Alex Da Corte Transforms Into Characters
S11 E1 - 1m 40s
Artist Alex Da Corte is in his studio in Philadelphia, PA, transforming into characters for a video shoot with the help of his team. In Da Corte's video artworks, he performs while dressed as a wide variety of cultural icons. By spending time with these characters, he hopes to make his mind freer than it is and give depth to icons that are often rendered as flat symbols.
Similar Shows
![Sweet Dillard: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/16/266177-73ILVJo-show-poster2x3-OVfN2rW.jpg?itok=Tnbor_AM)
Sweet Dillard
Arts and Music
![StoryBored USA: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/05/07/3410-sPVC54K-show-poster2x3-lS6Fn3L.png?itok=H1ho_eaw)
StoryBored USA
Arts and Music
![George Perris - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/08/16/314291-sTYgNh2-show-poster2x3-LkqnOOL.jpg?itok=Bfmf0dSs)
George Perris - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Arts and Music
![Frank Ferrante's Groucho: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/18/213299-R31Qq2g-show-poster2x3-AvVrBWX.png?itok=-EfLZXQ4)
Frank Ferrante's Groucho
Arts and Music
![The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/03/02/283817-r6pzDsR-show-poster2x3-GKepeNe.jpg?itok=c4xX6Qhp)
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Arts and Music
![Les Misérables: The Staged Concert: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2023/12/18/252865-qxAq4Hz-show-poster2x3-bS7m0hM.jpg?itok=pCKlNOON)
Les Misérables: The Staged Concert
Arts and Music
![Mavis Staples at Symphony Center, Chicago: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/24/265767-ErX0FTb-show-poster2x3-Qxt54IX.jpg?itok=eRtClmAR)
Mavis Staples at Symphony Center, Chicago
Arts and Music
![Art Happens Here with John Lithgow: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/22/291754-xw3UsEo-show-poster2x3-bsXzTf3.jpg?itok=---PpXKz)
Art Happens Here with John Lithgow
Arts and Music
![Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/24/265776-e9tmlSj-show-poster2x3-mmeYekK.jpg?itok=b6K-f6C-)
Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom
Arts and Music
![Fanny: The Right to Rock: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2023/12/22/261191-6k2B1Ke-show-poster2x3-WdRUK7c.jpg?itok=BjpZzslX)
Fanny: The Right to Rock
Arts and Music
WETA Passport
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.