Barnaby Gorton’s ‘Fake’ Art for The Christophers Challenges Notions of Authenticity

In Steven Soderbergh’s film The Christophers, starring Ian McKellen as a washed-up artist, 16 prop paintings were created by British artist Barnaby Gorton. Gorton, who has worked on Harry Potter, Gambit, and Assassin’s Creed, painted eight unfinished and eight completed versions under production designer Antonia Lowe’s guidance. He used polaroids by Lowe and Soderbergh as references, and drew inspiration from Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Andy Warhol. Gorton also taught actors Michaela Coel and McKellen painterly movements for authenticity. Culture columnist Gary Grimes argues that such commissioned work mirrors historical patronage, citing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel commission. Gorton notes that art for art’s sake is a 20th-century concept, and that films are “the new churches.” The film was released in the UK this week.