At the heart of this intimate documentary lies a timeless love story between controversial artist Joe Coleman and his muse and wife of 25 years, Whitney Ward. Known for his intricate portraits of serial killers and outlaws, Coleman now tackles his most challenging subject yet — a nearly seven-foot portrait of Whitney, the woman who has supported him through decades of artistic exploration into society’s darkest corners. As Coleman meticulously renders every aspect of Whitney’s life and body onto the canvas, the process becomes a high-stakes act of trust. Every biographical detail is laid bare under his unyielding gaze, fostering both intimacy and tension in their relationship.
Director Scott Gracheff gains unprecedented access to these complex creative partners, crafting a cinematic experience that immerses viewers in search of truth and beauty. The film deftly balances its exploration of Coleman’s provocative art with tender moments between the couple, revealing how their relationship has navigated the precarious balance between love, creativity and mortality. Featuring appearances by fellow art-world provocateurs Iggy Pop, Dave Navarro and Asia Argento, the documentary provides fascinating context for Coleman’s controversial work while keeping its emotional core firmly rooted in this extraordinary partnership. An intersection of art, love and the human condition, this unforgettable portrait offers a rare glimpse into the personal world behind some of contemporary art’s most challenging creations.—Jarod Neece
In a review in the New York Times critic Natalia Winkelman wrote:
“Among the selections with a New York slant, the documentaries “How Dark My Love” and “Andy Kaufman Is Me” would make an enrapturing double feature. Each examines a provocative artist sacrificing for their craft, even when that craft weirds out the mainstream. The more stylistically inventive is Scott Gracheff’s “How Dark My Love,” which profiles the bizarro painter Joe Coleman and his wife, Whitney Ward. Sweetly eccentric, the film studies the couple’s love story as Coleman undertakes a monumental opus: a massive portrait of Ward — a photographer and dominatrix by trade — surrounded by miniaturist renderings of her life’s most meaningful moments.
If Coleman’s Bosch-like painting offers one perspective of Ward — as idol and muse — “How Dark My Love” deepens the likeness by granting us access to her in intimate moments of doubt, anxiety and frustration”
