Skip to:

Art, Design and Literature

Explore the finer things in life with our compilation of art and culture shows

See all Art, Design and Literature on 4oD

4od

Order

The Big Art Project

The Channel 4 Big Art Project is inspiring and creating unique works of public art in seven selected sites across the UK More on The Big Art Project

Last broadcast: 31 May 2009, on
Here's Johnny

This True Stories documentary enters the surreal world of graphic artist Johnny Hicklenton, who is battling against multiple sclerosis and who escapes the confines of his illness through his artwork More on Here's Johnny
Painting the Mind

When builder Tommy McHugh and chiropractor Jon Sarkin suffered massive brain traumas, they suddenly revealed a previously hidden talent: to create art that amazed critics and collectors More on Painting the Mind
The Sculpture Diaries

Waldemar Januszczak presents his definitive account of his all-time favourite art-form - sculpture - in this three-part series More on The Sculpture Diaries
Stanley Kubrick's Boxes

When the acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick died in 1999, he left behind thousands of boxes of archive material. Jon Ronson tries to shed light on this remarkable and mysterious legacy. More on Stanley Kubrick's Boxes
Waiting for Hockney

This comic and poignant documentary looks at the risks, payoffs and consequences when one man single-mindedly pursues his vision no matter what, or how long, it takes More on Waiting for Hockney
A Dance to the Music of Time

An adaptation of Anthony Powell's 12-volume novel sequence - a sharp, comic portrait of upper-class and bohemian England, spanning almost a century, from the early 20s to modern times More on A Dance to the Music of Time
The Art Show

Contemporary arts strand that offers viewers a series of highly imaginative, provocative and unapologetically irreverent films covering the modern art scene More on The Art Show
Ballet Changed My Life

Channel 4 join Birmingham Royal Ballet and Youth at Risk to set Birmingham and Black Country Youth a challenge of a lifetime. Do they have what it takes to perform Romeo and Juliet live on stage? More on Ballet Changed My Life
Better by Design

Multi-award-winning designers Richard Seymour and Dick Powell rethink malfunctioning everyday objects, from unsound burglar alarms to rubbish kitchen bins More on Better by Design
The Big 4

The Big 4 is a 50-foot-high metal '4' outside Channel 4's Horseferry Road headquarters in London. A variety of artists - some internationally renowned, some emerging - have provided 'skins' for the structure. More on The Big 4
Close Up With...

Five films follow promising young artists as they spend a year being mentored by some of the biggest names from the creative world as part of The Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative [S] More on Close Up With...
Demolition

When Channel 4 asked the public to vote for the buildings they wanted to see demolished, more than 1,000 buildings were nominated. This four-part series investigates what we can do about them. More on Demolition
Derek

Derek Jarman was one of Britain's most innovative and controversial artists of the late 20th century and arguably the most crucial figure of British independent cinema from the 70s through to the 90s More on Derek
Digital TV

What is digital switchover? When is it coming to your area? And how do you go digital? For the answers to these questions and information about retuning and trouble shooting, visit the Digital UK website using the link below. More on Digital TV
The Great Chinese Art Revolution

Documentary exploring how Chinese art has caught the world's attention, creating an international art market that is developing as fast as the country's economy More on The Great Chinese Art Revolution
The Hay Festival

The Guardian Hay Festival is the largest literary event of its kind in the world. This collection of individual programmes highlights and explores its best parts. More on The Hay Festival
John Updike: In His Own Words

A tribute to John Updike, who died earlier this month. Acclaimed by many as America's greatest novelist, Updike talks to Booker Prize-winner Ian McEwan about his views on American life. More on John Updike: In His Own Words
Jung Chang Unmasks Mao

The publishing event of the 2005 Guardian Hay Festival was a major biography of Mao Tse-Tung by Jung Chang, the author of the runaway bestseller Wild Swans. More on Jung Chang Unmasks Mao
Matt's Old Masters

Matt Collings drags the Old Masters out of the rarefied, hallowed atmosphere of the museum, blinking into the light of the 21st century and asks: what do they have to offer us now? More on Matt's Old Masters
The Michelangelo Code

Art critic Waldemar Januszczak embarks on a global journey to reveal the true meaning behind Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece: the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome More on The Michelangelo Code
Operatunity

Can someone who has never sung opera professionally handle a major role in an English National Opera production onstage at the London Coliseum with world-class singers? This unique series finds out... More on Operatunity
Picasso: Magic, Sex and Death

In this major series, John Richardson, Picasso's close friend and acclaimed biographer, sets the record straight about one of the 20th century's greatest artists More on Picasso: Magic, Sex and Death
Sketches of Frank Gehry

Sydney Pollack directs this True Stories documentary that looks at the life and career of architect Frank Gehry, whose creations include the Guggenheim in Bilbao and LA's Disney Concert Hall More on Sketches of Frank Gehry
Street Summer

This August, Channel 4's Street Summer season celebrates contemporary urban art forms by shining a light on street dance, urban sport, rap/spoken word, hip hop and street art More on Street Summer
This Is Civilisation

Artist and critic Matthew Collings embarks on an epic journey across the planet to explore the ways in which cultures of the past have shaped our civilisation More on This Is Civilisation
Three Authors in Search of the Novel

Three of Britain's foremost novelists, Julian Barnes, Kazuo Ishiguro and Jonathan Coe, discuss the direction of the novel More on Three Authors in Search of the Novel
Toulouse Lautrec: The Full Story

Art critic Waldemar Januszczak tells the story of one of the world's most notorious artists: the French painter Toulouse Lautrec More on Toulouse Lautrec: The Full Story
Watercolour Challenge

A 49-part series hosted by actress Hannah Gordon, the challenge is to find Britain's best amateur painter and along the way to explore the landscapes of Britain More on Watercolour Challenge
The Yellow House

Feature-length drama of the moving human story behind two of the most influential and explosive housemates in art history - Vincent Van Gogh (John Simm) and Paul Gauguin (John Lynch) More on The Yellow House