Thomas Kinkade’s Life Was Nothing Like His Idealized Paintings. A New Documentary Looks at His Multimillion-Dollar Success and Dark Downfall

In the 1990s, Thomas Kinkade was the most successful artist of his time. His sentimental, sanitized landscapes full of Christian motifs and storybook cottages, some of which were lit with tiny LEDs embedded in the canvas, were so popular that, at one point, it was estimated that one in 20 American houses owned Kinkade artwork […]

Apr 25, 2025 - 18:27

Thomas Kinkade’s Life Was Nothing Like His Idealized Paintings. A New Documentary Looks at His Multimillion-Dollar Success and Dark Downfall

In the 1990s, Thomas Kinkade was the most successful artist of his time. His sentimental, sanitized landscapes full of Christian motifs and storybook cottages, some of which were lit with tiny LEDs embedded in the canvas, were so popular that, at one point, it was estimated that one in 20 American houses owned Kinkade artwork […]