An exhibition of historic artworks
painted for the camera’s eye
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible”
- Walt Disney
Backgrounds now in the Foreground puts fans in the picture.
Painted canvases created for some of Hollywood’s most famous films transport audiences to dramatic landscapes and grand settings
through the art of scenic illusion.
ORIGINATED & PREMIERED at
BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART
CINEMATIC IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Available For Future Bookings ›
Singing In The Rain, MGM (1952)
Karen L. Maness & Thomas A. Walsh
Co-Curators
In almost every feature film of Hollywood's golden age from North by Northwest to Ben Hur to The Sound of Music, painted backdrops have convinced moviegoers that what they are seeing—whether Mount Rushmore’s presidents, ancient Rome, or the Austrian Alps—is real. These painted canvases were intended to transport the audience, yet have largely remained unremarked for the illusions that they are.
These MGM and Fox studio backdrops represent key genres created from 1938 to 1968. Now, for the first time, the public can get up close to appreciate the masterful brushstrokes of the artists and study the art of illusion. This exhibition allows Hollywood’s scenic artists to finally be recognized for their contributions to cinematic art.
Art of the Hollywood Backdrop is an immersive storytelling experience and portal into the cinematic moments we grew up with and believed were real. Backdrops created to fool the eye and fade into the background of their movies now take center stage, displaying wizardry more compelling than many of the figures that once appeared before them.
The exhibition shares deep insight into the craft, techniques, and personal stories of the previously unrecognized scenic artists, using oral histories and film clips that support our stories’ narrative. Art of the Hollywood Backdrop offers an unforgettable appreciation of the artists working behind Hollywood’s cinematic curtain and into motion picture history itself.
Throughout the galleries, visitors will see curated examples of architecture, landscape, and interior design. Hand-painted motion picture backdrops, varying in height from 13 to18 feet, including one considered by many artists the most perfect backing ever painted: the 30-foot-tall Mount Rushmore from North by Northwest. These works demonstrate the mastery of illusion wielded by Hollywood’s top motion picture scenic artist
The Sound of Music, 20th Century Fox (1965)
“This exhibition of movie backdrops is not to be missed”
- Leonard Maltin, Movie Critic & Historian
EXHIBITION
DETAILS
INTRODUCTION
Art of the Hollywood Backdrop celebrates the leading scenic artists of Hollywood's Golden Age through their original studio backdrops, otherwise known as “backings.” A curated series of selected film clips on large monitors reveals the artists’ conception, process, and craft used to create these scenic masterpieces.
TRAVEL CHALLENGES
The exhibition’s variety of content options and footprint is re-scalable to accommodate spaces from 8,500 sq ft to 13,000 sq ft, or larger, depending on the aspirations of the host and its venue’s potential. Wall heights of 12’ to 18’ are required. The largest available backing, Mount Rushmore from North by Northwest, is 90’ wide x 30’ tall. At the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the sides were folded so it could fit into a 65’-foot-wide space in their Grand Hall. Due to the size of these backings, rooms with flat walls and high ceilings are best. The backings range in height from 10’ to 30’. They can be cropped by rolling the canvases at their tops or bottoms or can be spread on a gallery’s floor. The backings are of two types, canvas attached to wood battens at their tops and bottoms and folded canvases that are hung from pipes or custom battens on site. The weight of the backdrops is minimal, and they can be hung from a simple system of wall brackets or ceiling-supported cables.
BACKINGS STORIES & GENRES
The curated selections exhibited at the Boca Raton Museum of Art consisted of 22 backings of varying sizes, all chosen for their artistry and variety of genres, representing key story themes most prevalent in the motion pictures of their day. Additional backings representing other themes such as westerns, science fiction, architecture, interior design, cities, oceans, and skies can be substituted for future exhibitions through the Art of the Hollywood Backdrop LLC’s extensive network of private collections.
ARTIST'S STORIES & EDUCATION
Hollywood’s scenic story has never before been so comprehensively told. Film clips, writings, and artifacts of the craft reveal the scenic artist’s journey and are central to our storytelling. The artist’s techniques are explained through time-lapse film clips, photographs, and unique artifacts donated from private collections. At future exhibitions, it may be possible to include original studio art pieces from the Hollywood scenic artists and/or a traveling scenic paint studio where backdrop painting can be observed, with the paintings donated to the host’s community.
CONCLUSION
Art of the Hollywood Backdrop offers an unforgettable view behind Hollywood’s cinematic curtain and into motion picture history. The exhibition builds context for the creation and role of these masterpieces of illusion and the artists’ anonymity. As the saying goes, “If you noticed the backdrop, it was a failed backdrop.” Walking through the galleries feels like taking a tour of Hollywood’s soundstages. The museum becomes a stage—a magical portal taking the terms “large-scale,” “immersive,” and “virtual reality” to a whole new level.
“They have had no mention in the histories of the motion picture, yet without them there would be no history.”
- Kevin Brownlow, The Parade’s Gone By
HIGHLIGHTS & EXHIBITION FACTS
• Original MGM and Fox backdrops (circa 1938–1968)
• Insight into the long-guarded cinematic secrets of Hollywood’s movie makers
• Oral histories, movie clips, photography, and artifacts that tell the stories of uncredited artists
• Backdrops from famous and familiar motion pictures
• Backdrop selfie interactions proven to generate significant social media attention
• Area required: Adaptable space from 800 sq m (8,600 sq ft) to1,200 sq m (13,000 sq ft)
• Minimum height requirement: 4 meters (13’+) to 6 meters (18’+)
• Minimum hosting period: 4 months
• Merchandise program included with rental
• Scenic arts education and curated film and lecture series
• Photo and media opportunities (print, electronic, retail)