BURDEN is the first feature documentary exploring the life and work of pioneering artist Chris Burden. In the early 1970s, Burden's provocative, often dangerous, performance pieces shook the conventional art world. He had himself shot, crawled through a field of broken glass, and attempted to breathe water. He was dubbed "The Evel Knievel of the art world" by the press - a label he would struggle to overcome for most of his career. Burden quit performance in the late 70s and artistically reinvented himself. He went on to create a multitude of installations and sculptures. His work has influenced a generation of artists and been exhibited around the world. Using unprecedented access to Burden's archive as well as candid footage filmed with the artist in the final years of his life, this film documents Burden's shifting motivations and his transition away from the spotlight of performance towards a quieter and more civic minded art-making practice.