These are quotes about art that I have been collecting for years. I do not know who to attribute most of them too, so they are just a random collection that might interest or inspire you:
For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world – and my distaste for that is at odds with my feeling that art should aspire to do great things. – Shepard Fairey
I love art dealers. In some ways, they’re my favorite people in the art world. Really. I love that they put their money where their taste is, create their own aesthetic universes, support artists, employ people, and do all of this while letting us see art for free. Many are visionaries. – Jerry Saltz
There are times when the art world seems like a religious empire. There are great cathedral galleries and pilgrimage sites where treasured art pieces are displayed like holy relics, and this can certainly be a great pleasure on a rainy Sunday afternoon. – Michael Leunig
I would say being deeply involved in the art world would help keep a young artist on track. Doing what you love, so that your focus is your artistry. – Jada Pinkett Smith
The art world has become so insular. The rules have become so autodidactic that, in a sense, they lose track of what people have any interest in thinking about, talking about, or even looking at. – Kehinde Wiley
The rule in the art world is: you cater to the masses or you kowtow to the elite; you can’t have both. – Ben Hecht
I’m not really well educated – other than an art survey course at the High School of Art and Design in New York when I was, like, 15. I don’t know the history of art, but I got over intimidation from the art world when I realized that I was allowed to feel whatever I want and like whatever I want. – Marc Jacobs
It’s sort of a law of the art world: The stuff that grows in importance is only the stuff you bought because it wowed you. – Douglas Coupland
I like the elitism of the art world. I think art for the people is a terrible idea. – John Waters
Of course art world ethics are important. But museums are no purer than any other institution or business. Academics aren’t necessarily more high-minded than gallerists. – Jerry Saltz
Instagram is custom-made for the art world: you get a quick flash of an image with virtually no text or explanation. There’s no need to read. It’s perfect for people with zero attention span, zero education and zero interest in learning about anything – perfect in other words, for the art collectors of today. – Adam Lindemann- (from the New York Observer)
It seems there is a large gap existing between the audience and art professionals. It makes me wonder “who is defining art?”. – Nanzuka @nanzukaunderground
The artist’s intention must come through the work. For me, art must have some element of the emotional; it should be moving. – Dina Mitrani @dinamitranigallery
The issue that there is, there was and there will be is that you need somebody to credit your work to bring value to it. The galleries and museums are playing that role. You need to have somebody who says, trust me, it’s creative work and it’s good quality work so that people feel that they can invest their money- from 50 dollars to millions of dollars, it doesn’t matter. – Christine Pfister @pentimentigallery
You need somebody who is going to tell you that yes, you should consider that, and that’s what we do as galleries. We actually credit the work of the artists. It is possible to work without a gallery, but it’s much slower and difficult, you need to be in a certain circle. I don’t see that role of the galleries changing.
Make an enemy of jealousy and envy. As fast and soon as you can…. The art world is high school with money.” — Jerry Saltz
Art is an organizing strategy to fight against the alienation of everyday life.” — Artist/activist Raul Ayala of People’s Climate Arts
If one does not love photographs, it is unnecessary to proceed further. – John Szarkowski A great improvement in presentation often occurs through a simple change in pace.
Edward Steichen spent a year photographing a cup and saucer in order to learn more about light and sharpen his vision and technique.
Photography, if practiced with high seriousness, is a contest between a photographer and the presumptions of approximate and habitual seeing.
Most people’s technique is superior to their visual ability to exploit it.
Edward Weston won the first Guggenheim in photography. His “history” he wrote was as “self taught” his ‘plans’ he described as “continuing my work”. He wouldn’t have had a chance for most grants after 1977.
I work in my own way, following my basic concepts of photography. Bach made his music and Mozart his. Both are very different. And Stravinsky and Bartok are very different from both of them. But it is all great music – in one way or another. It would be foolish and immoral for me to jump on the bandwagon and make pictures like Gene Smith or Heinekein. It is just not my style. But that does not prevent me from appreciating them for what they are – explorers and creative artists of our time. – Ansel Adams
Performing the music of Bach is re-creation. To write Bach in these days would be imitative – not creative. Creativity is universal, but has always been thrusting ahead into new domains. I think there are too many photographers working today in a euphoria of imitation, and not climbing new mountains. – Ansel Adams
The worst thing that could happen to the world at this time would be to have its ideas and arts become sterile. – Ansel Adams
For photographers who are not confine to projecting their own obsessions, there are arresting moments, beautiful subjects everywhere. – Susan Sontag
I feel an artist should go about his work simply with great respect for his materials… Simplicity of equipment and an adventurous spirit are essential in attacking the unfamiliar and unknown – Alexander Calder
Having a lot of equipment dedicates you to its use. You go off in the direction your equipment carries you. You should set limits. The trouble with a lot of artists is that they have too much technique. They don’t know what to do with it all. If you cut down on it you can work more strongly within narrower limits. – Alexander Calder
Picasso was once told “that doesn’t look like a fish” to which he replied “it’s not a fish; it’s a drawing of a fish.” When someone told him, “i have never seen a sunset like that” he said “ what a pity” – Jean Charlot
I primarily buy art to show it off. – Charles Saatchi
What artists think about the world is often different from how we businessmen see it, and I find that an enriching experience. – Eli Broad
Art, in the most general sense of the word, as a phenomenon that attempts to reach beyond the everyday world and at first sight pursues no readily apparent or understandable purpose, is something that is found in all human communities. It would be impossible to imagine the existence of man without art in some form or another… – Buehler, Barrow, and Mountford, The Art of the South Sea Islands 1962
The more the art dominated my life and my house, the more the house became a home. – Burt Reynolds in Architectural Digest, Sept 1983
Very few people ever understand art. If you are lucky, they will buy it for the wrong reasons. – Darby Bannard
Many people simply do not trust their own taste. Having someone else – other than the artist – tell them the work is good often gives them ‘permission to buy.’ – Kelly Borsheim
When one buys some of my artwork I hope it is because they will wish to learn from it and not because they think it will match their drapes! – Christian Cardell Corbet
Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has ever known. – Oscar Wilde
Art is too important not to share. – Romero Britto
There are two distinct languages. There is the verbal, which separates people… and there is the visual that is understood by everybody. – Yaacov Agam
Don’t worry about mistakes. Making things out of mistakes, that’s creativity. – Peter Max
A picture is a poem without words. – Horace
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. – Edgar Degas
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Picasso
The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke. – Jerzy Kosinski
