Mandy Patinkin's Children and Art, his first new album since 2002, was released October 25, 2019, on Nonesuch Records. The songs were recorded in New York with pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman); several have been previewed over the last two years as part of the digital Diary series. Video of the album tracks "Wandering Boy" by Randy Newman and Laurie Anderson's "From the Air" may be seen below. Other composers on the record include Lyle Lovett, Taylor Mac, Stephen Sondheim, Tom Waits, and Patinkin himself. 

As Patinkin explains, "After thirty years my musical collaborator, Paul Ford retired. I wasn't sure if that meant I would have to as well. But my dear friend Bob Hurwitz [of Nonesuch] introduced me to Thomas Bartlett, who introduced me to an entirely new way of making music … in his studio, hours of playing, singing, and recording, never searching for the illusion of perfection." He continues, "Singing onstage is one of the greatest joys in my life."

Patinkin has played CIA agent Saul Berenson on Showtime's Emmy and Golden Globe Award–winning Homeland for the last seven seasons—a role for which he has received four Emmy nominations. The eighth and final season of Homeland is currently in production.

Well known for his portrayal of Inigo Montoya in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride, Mandy Patinkin is featured in the film Before You Note It, currently in theaters around the country; his song "Raggedy Ann," from Children and Art, also is featured in the picture. Patinkin's other film credits include Yentl (1983), Alien Nation (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), Wish I Was Here (2014), Wonder (2017), and Life Itself (2018), among many others. In addition to his role on Homeland, he has appeared in major roles in television series such as Chicago Hope (Emmy Award), Dead Like Me, and Criminal Minds. Patinkin is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim and is acclaimed for his work in musical theater, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park with George and Che in the original Broadway production of Evita (Tony Award). He has released seven previous albums on Nonesuch. Additionally, Patinkin has been passionately involved in volunteer work with various NGOs throughout his life, and currently is an ambassador with the International Rescue Committee. Over the past five years, he has traveled the world to visit with refugees and tell their stories.

Thomas Bartlett, also known as Doveman, is an American pianist, singer, and producer. He has worked with many Nonesuch artists—including Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, David Byrne, The Magnetic Fields, Nico Muhly on Peter Pears, Mandy Patinkin, and Chris Thile—as well as Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard, The National, St. Vincent, Father John Misty, Rhye, Florence + The Machine, The Gloaming, Martha Wainwright, and others. Born in Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio.