Glasstire is excited to announce its exclusive digital distribution of Breaking the Code: The Art of Vernon Fisher, an award-winning documentary that explores the life and work of the renowned Texas artist. Viewers can learn more about the film and stream it in full on YouTube.
Breaking the Code has garnered multiple accolades, including the “Best Historical Film” award at the 2023 Dallas International Film Festival. The documentary features rare archival materials and interviews with Fisher, who passed away in 2023, as well as commentary from his contemporaries. This film aims to introduce Fisher’s work to a new generation while offering existing fans a deeper understanding of his artistic journey.
Born in 1943 to rural Texas farmers, Fisher initially viewed painting merely as a way to adorn houses. However, by the 1980s, he was exhibiting alongside iconic figures like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, solidifying his status as one of the 20th century’s most significant artists. In addition to his artistic accomplishments, Fisher was a respected art professor at the University of North Texas.
Former student Jeff Elrod described his experience with Fisher as “life-changing.” Another of his students, Baseera Khan, recently achieved fame by winning the 2023 MTV reality series The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist. Both artists appear in the documentary, which also includes insights from MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Dave Hickey and acclaimed art historian Frances Colpitt—both of whom were featured in some of their final interviews before their deaths in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Vernon Fisher, a multimedia artist born in Fort Worth, Texas, held over eighty solo exhibitions throughout his career. His works have been displayed at prestigious institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Today, his pieces are part of the permanent collections of more than forty art museums.
Fisher’s art is characterized by its use of diverse media to create large-scale paintings and installations that blend elements of vernacular architecture and pop culture, often conveying intricate visual narratives. He is particularly known for his blackboard paintings, which feature a slate-gray ground that evokes the patina of a chalkboard. This unique approach combines erased texts and everyday classroom imagery with a variety of symbols and fragments, marking a departure from traditional modernism.
The film is directed and produced by Michael Flanagan, a filmmaker from McAllen, Texas. Flanagan also works as a Project Manager for the River Pierce Foundation and has contributed to Glasstire’s coverage of Texas visual art. His films have been showcased internationally at venues including the Laemmle Theater in Los Angeles and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Breaking the Code: The Art of Vernon Fisher stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of one of Texas’s most influential artists, inviting audiences to engage with his profound impact on the art world.
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