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# Steve Martin, Stella, Fairey & Serrano on Colbert Report
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/steve-martin-frank-stella-shepard-fairey-andres-serrano-on-colbert-report/
- Published: 2010-12-09T14:22:36.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:37:47.000Z
- Description: I can't remember the last time so many bold faced art names were on mainstream television. Last night, Stephen Colbert tried to convince well-known art collector Steve Martin to buy his René Magritte-like portrait but it wasn't an easy sell. Colbert soon marched on some major artists to make it more
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: Opinion, #image-position-hidden, Andres Serrano, Frank Stella, Shepard Fairey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Martin, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-17 09:23 (2009-2011)

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2010/12/colbert-martin-med.jpg "colbert-martin-MED")](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2010/12/colbert-martin-lg.jpg?ref=hyperallergic.com)

I can’t remember the last time so many bold faced art names were on mainstream television. Last night, Stephen Colbert tried to convince well-known art collector Steve Martin to buy his [René Magritte](http://psyc.queensu.ca/~psyc382/MagritteNot.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)\-like portrait but it wasn’t an easy sell. Colbert soon marched on some major artists to make it more enticing. As he said, Stella declared it art, Fairey recontextualized it, Serrano added controversy, and Colbert even added Martin’s image but still no sale. The segment is a funny and clever way to introduce some artists to a mass audience that may not be familiar with their work. For that, Colbert gets an A++.

| [The Colbert Report](http://www.colbertnation.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c                                                                      |                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                           |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Exclusive – Steve Martin Extended Segment](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/367860/december-08-2010/exclusive---steve-martin-extended-segment?ref=hyperallergic.com)                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                           |
| [www.colbertnation.com](http://www.colbertnation.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                           |
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| [Colbert Report Full Episodes](http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/?ref=hyperallergic.com) [Political Humor & Satire Blog](http://www.indecisionforever.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) [March to Keep Fear Alive](http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/March%20to%20Keep%20Fear%20Alive?ref=hyperallergic.com) | [Colbert Report Full Episodes](http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/?ref=hyperallergic.com) | [Political Humor & Satire Blog](http://www.indecisionforever.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)                                  | [March to Keep Fear Alive](http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/March%20to%20Keep%20Fear%20Alive?ref=hyperallergic.com) |
| [Colbert Report Full Episodes](http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/?ref=hyperallergic.com)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | [Political Humor & Satire Blog](http://www.indecisionforever.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)          | [March to Keep Fear Alive](http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/March%20to%20Keep%20Fear%20Alive?ref=hyperallergic.com) |                                                                                                                           |

*hat tip Henry C*