The End of the World is coming to Manhattan! Robert Cenedella, the “Art Bastard”, brings his vision of the apocalypse to a gallery window just a week before the US election. David D'Arcy, The Art Newspaper
"Robert Cenedella the 76-year-old sees as a crooked scene in which the mediocre decide the fate of genius. " -Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Art Bastard is as energetic, humorous and unapologetically honest as the uncompromising man at its center, Robert Cenedella. Metra Critic
NEWYORK ARTISTS GET HIS 15 MINUTES … TIMES SIX. -National Post
Meet the rebellious New York artist Robert Cenedella, Blog TO
Press Articles
United States
*New York Times CRITIC's PICK! "Robust documentary portrait of lifelong rebel and art-world gadfly." Cenedella comes across as a reassuring voice of sanity.
-Stephen Holden, THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Michelangelo had the Sistine Chapel. Robert Cenedella has P.J. Carney’s." FILM PUTS ART-WORLD REBEL ON NEW CANVAS
-Steve Dollar, WALL STREET JOURNAL
"A REBEL WITH A CANVAS! PROVOCATIVE! Kinetic from the opening shots! ART BASTARD is about a proudly unrepentant troublemaker who tilts at the art-world equivalent of Don Quixote’s windmills!"
-Bob Mondello, NPR
"An intimate portrait of the iconoclastic artist Robert Cenedella... Socially conscious and often mordantly humorous, the paintings are wonderfully exhibited in this film which benefits from being seen on the big screen."
-Frank Scheck, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"A loving tribute to one of the most delightfully tenacious and ardently passionate voices in modern art... highly recommended to art junkies"
-Oktay Ege Kozak, THE PLAYLIST
"Victor Kanefsky's engaging and thought-provoking documentary about Cenedella, is a beautiful portrait of the man himself, as well as a critique of the art world that has ignored him (and others) because they don't "fit."
-Sheila O'Malley, RogerEbert.com
"4 stars! A pure delight! This tribute to a marvelous talent is long overdue, and 'Art Bastard' pays an invigorating celebration to a one-of-a-kind genius."
-Phil Hall, The Examiner
"THE BEST FILM ABOUT ART I HAVE SEEN... A scintillating, visually splendid look at the life and satirical work of socially conscious, talented and articulate art rebel Robert Cenedella. The art establishment should take a fresh look at Cenedella’s work, which certainly deserves a major, reflective New York exhibition at this point in time."
- William Wolf, wolfentertainmentguide.com
"A vibrant and tender movie... A thoroughly engaging portrait of a witty and driven artist whose life story is as poignant as his paintings are comical and wild... A sweeping look at an artist driven to speak his heart and to live life true to who he was... You will enjoy your 84 minutes with Bob Cenedella. Like his paintings, he’s one colorful character. Bravo to the filmmakers for celebrating his life and works."
-Roberta Fallon, ArtBlog
"I love this film... ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR!" "Track this film down and see it. It will do wondrous things for your outlook on life." "Robert Cenedella is absolutely compelling. Listening to him talk about life and art is one of the great cinematic treats I've had recently."
-Steve Kopian, UnseenFilms
"A feel-good film that, for once, doesn’t denigrate the term. As a serious artist who has spent 60 years of his life making people laugh, Robert Cendella is my new art hero. His story is a must-see for those who champion free speech and the inherent power of a solid belly laugh." -Scott Marks, SAN DIEGO READER
"Cenedella is a natural storyteller – a valuable gift if you're painting narrative pictures – and it's best to follow his lead. When in doubt, stay out of the bastard’s way."
"If you can't be with [Cenedella] over a beer or two, or in the studio, Art Bastard is the next best thing."
-David D’Arcy, Bluoin Artinfo
FILM PICK OF THE WEEK! "Cenedella is an entertaining, unconventional character." -Pat Padua, DCist.com
"Victor Kanefsky’s great film on this unsung artist is a feast of wonderful jarring-awake images, New York vibes, brilliant colors, strong opinions and laughs. -Janet Coleman, WBAI
"An artist and bohemian in the truest sense of those words is celebrated in this inspiring doc about his work and gloriously independent life. The roiling, often hilarious and satirically biting art of Robert Cenedella calls to mind the work of Breughel and George Grosz." -David Noh, FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
"Cenedella continues to launch spitballs at the establishment, paint terrific pictures, and attract devoted admirers. This film should win him a bunch more." - Jonathon Richards, Santa Fe New Mexican
"an up-close and personal examination of an artist, his work, and post-war America."
"The film finds its strength by simply letting the subject talk and tell his life’s story"
"brilliantly exploits a relatively niche subject by making it palatable for the viewing audience."
"with any luck, you may one day find yourself acing a “Final Jeopardy” question about Robert Cenedella." by Alex Duffant, IrishFilmCritic.com
"4 Stars! You may not recognize the name going in, but after spending 82 minutes watching director Victor Kanefsky cast a heartfelt lens in Cenedella's direction, you'll never forget him."
-Scott Marks, SAN DIEGO READER
"The perfect way to celebrate your dad on Father’s Day would be taking him to see this picture."
-Josh Board, SAN DIEGO READER
The madly teeming pop-cartoon paintings of Robert Cenedella anchor this lively look at a self-styled superstar of outsider art. -Owen Gleiberman, Variety.com
