SUMMARY

The new documentary, Robert Rauschenberg’s Golden Gilder, reveals a little-known prolific collaboration and creative friendship between one of the top American artists of the 20th century, Robert Rauschenberg, and his gilder, Brad Read. The film visually explores the unconventional application of gold by the famous painter and his pioneering experimentation with an ancient craft that resulted in fascinating and lasting examples of modern art.

STORY

Rauschenberg’s and Read’s decade-long productive partnership greatly impacted the innovative artist’s overall vision for his oeuvre and culminated in asking Read to contribute to the celebrated The ¼ Mile painting with about 16 square feet of pure 24 karat gold.

Rauschenberg utilized Byzantine water gilding before meeting and singling out his exceptionally skilled and favored gold leaf expert in the 1980s. This meaningful encounter inspired the boundary-pushing master to expand his concept and methodology, and eventually include it in one of the largest individual paintings ever produced.

After their initial introduction at the respected fine art printing hub, Gemini G.E.L., in Los Angeles, CA, Read contributed to close to 30 individual pieces and received an invitation to Rauschenberg’s studio in Captiva Island, FL to work under the Blue-Chip Artist’s direction for an extensive period.

Rauschenberg’s professional trust and increasing interest in Read’s creative contribution extended to the point where the innovator allowed his craftsman to go beyond his expertise: Read was granted a certain level of discretion as to how he used the technique in Rauschenberg’s work.

With time, the employment turned into an empowering collaboration. As a result, Read’s usage of his own artist’s wooden ink stamp with his initial was included in Rauschenberg’s works—several of the Sri Lanka series reveal an “r” in the image.

The never-shared stories of Robert Rauschenberg’s Golden Gilder will include close and first-hand knowledge of “Bob” as an individual and artist, as well as his studio practice that enriched art history by amplifying the highly cinematic Renaissance process of gold leaf mastery in pop art.

FILMMAKER

I, Klaudia Kovács, come from a family that has been part of and closely associated with the fine art world. My mother was a museologist and curator of historic and art exhibitions, and art programs for children; my father was a fine artist.

As an adult and journalist my interest in art continued and brought me into contact with many outlets that requested me to professionally write about or interview painters, sculptors, aquarellists, and architects. 

It is a natural intellectual and visual consequence to want to merge my expertise in filmmaking and knowledge of fine art especially when you find a compelling and engaging subject that has never been documented and revealed before.

As an Oscar-contender in “Best Documentary” and multi-award-winning director, I’m convinced that Robert Rauschenberg’s Golden Gilder would fill a void.

It would entertain both, the general public and the art world, also because Read owns several original Rauschenberg pieces that were specifically created for him, and have not been shared publicly yet.

SUPPORT

We had discussions and asked for a collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation (RRF).

Currently, we’re seeking additional collaboration with and/or support of:

• Art collectors

• Museums

• Galleries

• Art historians

• Donors

• Financiers

FINANCING

We’re in the process of securing a fiscal sponsorship status (similar to a non-profit status) with the International Documentary Association (IDA) and seeking financial contributions for the project. Our hybrid financial model allows us to accept:

• Donations

• Investments

• In-kind donations

• Corporate sponsorships

The following formats are possible: cash, checks, credit card, wire transfers or domestic ACH, stocks, matching and online donations.

If you’re able to provide any assistance to Robert Rauschenberg’s Golden Gilder or would like to receive updates and later be invited to red carpet premieres, please enter your information below: