A moving and eye-opening journey through the world of contemporary art, from one of the most innovative voices in the field.

In an age where being a professional artist is an increasingly unattainable luxury, art criticism duo The White Pube investigate why so many artists persist. Often compared to “the Diet Prada of the art world,” Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad satirize a contemporary art world that has transformed art into mere “artworks,” art schools into profit-driven “art universities,” and creative expression into fierce competition.

Poor Artists follows Quest Talukdar, an aspiring artist, as she embarks on a surreal journey into the creative industry. She must confront a difficult choice: prioritizing success or remaining true to her artistic vision.

Through dialogue gleaned from anonymous interviews with real individuals who have grappled with the same dilemma – including a Turner Prize winner, a recluse, a Venice Biennale fraudster, a communist messiah, a ghost, and even a knight – The White Pube craft a unique and compelling narrative about the world of art.