WYETH To Premiere As Part Of American Masters 'Artists Flight' Series On PBS This September

WYETH tells the story of one of America's most popular, but least understood, artists - Andrew Wyeth. Son of the famous illustrator N.C. Wyeth, Andrew had his first exhibition at age 20, and his painting "Christina's World" was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948. While Wyeth's exhibitions routinely broke attendance records, art world critics continually assaulted his work. Detailing the stunning drawings and powerful portraits he created in Chadds Ford, Pa. and on the coast of Cushing, Maine, WYETH explores his inspirations, including neighbor Christina Olsen and his hidden muse, the German model Helga Testorf, who he painted secretly for 15 years. Through unprecedented access to Wyeth's family members, including sons Jamie and Nicholas Wyeth, and never-before-seen archival materials from the family's personal collection and hundreds of Wyeth's studies, drawings and paintings, AMERICAN MASTERS presents the most complete portrait of the artist yet - bearing witness to a legacy just at the moment it is evolving.

Directed by Glenn Holsten, the film will be available on Digital HD on September 8 and on DVD September 11 via PBS Distribution.

AMERICAN MASTERS "ARTISTS FLIGHT" on PBS

Uncovering the lives and works of four groundbreaking visual artists, American Masterspresents an "Artists Flight" of new documentaries, premiering Fridays, August 31-September 14 on PBS (check local listings).

This special presentation of four films showcases a range of iconic American artists. Films include "Eva Hesse"(Friday, August 31, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET), which tells the story of the 1960s art world icon who changed art history and women's place in the picture; "Everybody Knows...Elizabeth Murray"(Friday, September 7, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), following Murray's journey to artistic maverick, voiced by Meryl Streep; "Wyeth"(Friday, September 7, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET), uncovering the inner life of painter Andrew Wyeth; and "Basquiat: Rage to Riches"(Friday, September 14, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET), exploring the life of anonymous New York graffiti artist turned '80s art world rock star Jean-Michel Basquiat.

American Masters, THIRTEEN's award-winning biography series, celebrates our arts and culture. Launched in 1986 on PBS, the series has produced an exceptional library, illuminating the lives of our most enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, activists, scientists and those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape.American Mastershas earned 28 Emmy Awards - including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special - 13 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of masters past and present, American Mastersoffers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the American Masters Podcast, educational resources and more at pbs.org/americanmasters. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel.

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