Steve Martin, Famous Artists Appraise Stephen Colbert's Portrait (VIDEO)

On Wednesday night's "Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert welcomed the always funny Steve Martin to the show to have a frank discussion about art. Promoting his new art-centered novel "An Object of Beauty," Martin was given an art pop quiz by Colbert and then commissioned to appraise his prized "infinity shot" portrait that hangs on his set.

In this web-exclusive extended segment, Colbert gets Martin's initial appraisal and it isn't good. Martin values the framed portrait at $19 and adds, "that's if I wanted it." Luckily, Colbert had famed artists on set to add their own additions, which Colbert hoped would impress Martin enough to purchase the portrait. Starting with the father of minimalism Frank Stella giving it his approval, to Obey artist Shepard Fairey re-contextualizing it, and finally a controversial touch by Andres Serrano, Colbert's portrait goes from ink-jet disaster to a full-fledged masterpiece in under 15 minutes.

WATCH:

Comments

[citizen1787]

12:30 PM on 12/12/2010

Art is subjective.

I wouldn't give a warm bucket of something for minimalist "art" and the only reason I might is if I could make money from the transaction.

Modern art reminds me of the Emperor with no clothes. It is only worth what filthy rich people will spend.

[EuropeWindAndFire]

03:41 PM on 12/12/2010

Ce n'est pas une reaction

[citizen1787]

03:45 PM on 12/12/2010

I don't understand what you mean, how is it not a reaction?

[John Roman]

03:54 PM on 12/17/2010

In order to appreciate it, you must remember from whence it came: "Modern" art was a direct response to the status quo; traditional or classic representational art. Along with it's precursor Surrealism, Abstraction and then Minimalism sought to overthrow the staid collective consciousness of the masses and enlighten them through accessing the subconscious, the emotional and even the irrational. For this it has become prized and honored not because it reflects prodigious talent but because it dared to see the world differently.

[MadMoll]

01:07 PM on 12/10/2010

Colbert has invited other artists to alter the portrait - William Wegman was showcased on last night's show:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/368132/december-09-2010/art-stephen-up-challenge---william-wegman?xrs=share_copy

This is going to an awesome Art Appreciation Course. wonder if I can get college credit for it.

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:17 AM on 12/10/2010

John Stewart and his writers have earned every Emmy they've won.
But the reason Stephen Colbert and his writers have yet to earn an Emmy is simply because his show is so far over their heads the Emmy voters will never actually get it.

[shellichelle]

10:53 AM on 12/11/2010

Colbert's writers have won two writing emmy's: 2008 and 2010 (Stephen himself won writing awards while working on The Daily Show). I think you may be refering to the Best Variety Program category and I whole-heartedly agree with you! I hold out hopes that The Colbert Report will be the one to end The Daily Show's record setting reign- it's only fair!

[cirrus9]

09:19 PM on 12/15/2010

Oops.

[fishnetdiver]

06:41 AM on 12/10/2010

was hoping Mr Martin would talk about when we can expect the next 'Cheaper by the Dozen' film.
very dissappointed.

/snark off

loved it!

[juliebird]

08:15 AM on 12/10/2010

I was amazed that Chris Farley attended 92nd St Y lectures.

[DemFem]

02:08 AM on 12/10/2010

This was a very interesting episode with some real greats from the art world coming on & blowing Steve Martin's mind. You could hear him saying, "Oh, God!" each time Colbert introduced one.

Shame on those people at the Y who booed Martin because he wouldn't "perform" to their liking. He has moved on with his life and is writing now, & as the newspaper article announcing his appearance stated, he was there to discuss art, the subject of his book. Colbert was cool to help smooth things for Martin so publicly.

[GraphicMatt]

11:38 AM on 12/10/2010

Agreed...Martin has actually been recognized by the arts community for years now. He is often listed as being one of the top art collectors in the world. Despite his claims that he is no expert on art, I have to believe he still knows a hell of alot more on the subject than the average bear. : )

[sloreader]

10:12 AM on 12/11/2010

Corny comedy notwithstanding, Steve is multi-dimensional to say the least. At times he reminds me of one of his early mentors, Steve Allen. He's a comedian, writer, musician and all around interesting person.

[Blowing Back]

02:07 AM on 12/10/2010

To all the Serrano h8 erz out there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andres_Serrano

I wouldn't be bragging about how your 'sensibilities' won't allow you to use your senses (you have at least five btw); and if can't open your mind then maybe you don't have one ...

[GraphicMatt]

11:38 AM on 12/10/2010

Andres Serrano is a brilliant artist with an amazing eye!

[NekoLaw]

01:04 AM on 12/10/2010

I was blown away by this episode. The way Colbert managed to get in solid shots at both the 92nd Street Y (for its recent diss of Martin) and the Smithsonian (for caving to conservative pressure) while giving air time to a who's who of modern art was an astonishing episode in television pop culture. Kudos to everyone involved in its creation!

[joeblow]

06:48 PM on 12/09/2010

I watched it with the hope that it would be hilarious. Sorry. The whole thing went off like a fart in a space suit!
But I still love The Colbert Report. Hey, they can't all be gems!!!

[mhazard]

12:17 PM on 12/10/2010

I thought it was hilarious.

[Chris Kavas]

03:11 PM on 12/10/2010

...fart in a space suit...

Now thats comedy :)

We loved this episode. Colbert keeps getting better.

[ghee99]

05:33 PM on 12/09/2010

the first artist was good (at art)

and shepard, while hardly a great artist, is good with graphics, and the "obey" addition was pretty cool, and fit with the theme

but the third guy, who takes pictures of his come and urine, well (excuuuuuse me) but thats hardly great art, or even anything i want to see
.... not to mention, his "idea", drawing that type of moustache, is just so tired and hacky,
although, from serrano, thats exactly the type of "shocking" yet unoriginal idea i would expect from him

[GraphicMatt]

11:42 AM on 12/10/2010

Thanks for enlightening us all with your complete ignorance towards art. Sometimes it's best to not say anything at all as opposed to saying something so utterly misinformed and ridiculous.

[ROFLMAO]

04:46 PM on 12/09/2010

maybe SM was acting the art critic bit, but I dunno - he did it too well. When he said that the painting had become "important" because someone scribbled on it, I got a feeling that much art appreciation is baloney - my pretentiousness meter went off.
Consider a perfect copy of , say, the Mona Lisa. The original is priceless, but you know this copy is a clever forgery. No-one can tell the two apart by looking, it would take X-rays to tell the difference... so, why is one priceless and one worthless? They give the exact same amount of visual pleasure to look at... the difference, I'm afraid to say, is that some "expert" tells you that one is "art" and the other is not.... discuss.

[surajshah]

01:15 AM on 12/10/2010

are you kidding...dont you know the difference between original and copy...its not visual pleasure that counts....go seach for monalisa and the new paradigm that was invented...there is a story attached to original. b.t.w if that was case..i would scan monalisa and print it on laser..better than original...better visual presentation....

[ROFLMAO]

07:14 AM on 12/11/2010

I get it, the copier didn't have the original idea. OK, that makes sense - and also the artistic effort of creating is not present in the act of copying. What about the modern "artists" who paint just a monochrome canvas (there was an example on the Colbert segment of a purely green canvas, and I've also seen a completely white canvas)? There's no creation or real originality there - would you still support paying more for the original?

[MsMassachusetts]

02:50 PM on 12/09/2010

This should be auctioned for charity.

[juliebird]

08:17 AM on 12/10/2010

probably will be.

[Cybesq]

02:42 PM on 12/09/2010

I WANT IT

[dengal]

02:59 PM on 12/09/2010

me too. . . .

[Kiz boy]

02:11 PM on 12/09/2010

Post modern ironic perfection.

[NickTAZ]

01:56 PM on 12/09/2010

I bet this painting will sell for big money in the very near future

[Snafu]

01:51 PM on 12/09/2010

When I saw Andres Serrano come on stage, I thought was going to whip it out and urinate on the picture.

[ghee99]

05:35 PM on 12/09/2010

yeah, that about all you can expect from that guy

certainly you wouldn't expect art

and in that sense (not providing anything artistic) he did not fail to meet expectations

[GraphicMatt]

11:47 AM on 12/10/2010

That's all you can expect from him? Just because you are only aware of one his photos I can see why you'd expect that. Now actually find the rest of his body of work before defining him by only one.

[chanook106]

09:07 AM on 12/10/2010

Didn't he say his picture was ejaculate? Were you really expecting him to urinate on the picture?

[GraphicMatt]

11:48 AM on 12/10/2010

Serrano has a wide body of work. The "Piss Christ" and other body fluid works were done back in the '80s. He's done quite a bit of work since then.