Discover the 10 best artist quotes

Discover the 10 best artist quotes

A quote is a sentence or passage taken from a speech, a book, a film, a written text or even a conversation, and which is repeated or quoted by someone else. Quotations are often used to illustrate a point, to support an argument, to express an idea concisely, or to pay homage to the original author. They can also be used to convey ideas, values, emotions or experiences.

Quotes, these short sentences that we remember, that make us think or that touch us… Many of us keep in mind the mantras of people who inspire us, whether they are artists, athletes, thinkers, etc.

This phrase that guides our life, most often encouraging and motivating, is a real boost in times of low morale. Don't have yours yet?

1. “ I wanted to transform it, to make it an architectural object, an object of inspiration for artists, quite simply an object of art. May it become for the first time a sculpture, but ephemeral like my dream. » –Christo

Christo is an artist born in 1935 in Bulgaria, and it was accompanied by his wife,Jeanne-Claude , that they decided to wrap the monuments. Thus, they create ephemeral and unique works of art. In this quote, Christo talks about one of his most famous works: the Pont Neuf in Paris. Christo and Jeanne-Claude decided to wrap this monument in 1985 with 41 square meters of canvas. But the artistic duo does not stop there. They had planned to pack the Arc de Triomphe in April 2020 but Christo sadly passed away in May 2020.

2. “ What matters is not the image, it’s what we do with it ” – JR

Real name Jean René, is a committed contemporary artist. He got his start on the streets of Paris as a street artist, then turned to photography, eventually becoming the creator of monumental works of art around the world. He is at the origin of numerous anamorphoses such as that of the Louvre or the trompe l'oeil of the Eiffel Tower in 2020.

3. “ My paintings never turn out the way I planned, but I am never surprised ” – Andy Warhol

Andrew Warhola, better known as Andy Warhol, is a famous 20th century artist born in Pennsylvania. He is one of the leaders of the pop art movement. Well known for his cans and his portraits of Marylin Monroe , he became interested in the art world very early. His works began by being exhibited in a restaurant and he had his first real exhibition in New York at the Hugo Gallery.

4. “ I never painted my dreams, I painted my own reality. » – Frida Kahlo

Many artists draw inspiration from their experiences and transcribe their anecdotes into painting. Frida Kahlo is the most famous female artist of the 20th century. Having had a rather turbulent experience, she began to paint following her first accident. After this drama, family problems, love problems and many others ensue. Frida Kahlo represents in her works what she endures throughout her life. She will be the symbol of courage and the spokesperson for the women of her time.

5. “ I don't think about working on art when I work, I try to think about life. » –Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat is an American painter born in 1960. Avant-garde, he creates works described as outsider art. At age 7, he was hit by a car and required surgery. His mother then gave him a book on medical anatomy, which would later become his source of inspiration for his works. His career as an artist began as a graffiti artist under the pseudonym SAMO, an acronym for “Same Old Shit”. Eventually, he decides to use his real name and tag SAMO IS DEAD to indicate the end of this character. He began to exhibit his paintings in several galleries and his notoriety increased considerably. His life ended in 1988 and he left behind numerous works.

6. “ I dream my painting, then I paint my dream. " - Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the greatest painters in the history of art. He was born in 1853 in the Netherlands and was part of the naturalist movement. He moved to France where he began to paint and draw and, little by little, these practices became a passion for him. In total, he painted more than 2,000 paintings during his career. In his creations, he notably uses the pointillism technique, which will become his “trademark”. Mentally unstable, he burned himself and cut off his ear to punish himself for arguing with Gauguin.

7. “ Painting is poetry which is seen instead of felt and poetry is painting which is felt instead of seen . " - Leonardo DeVinci

Author of The Mona Lisa , the essential Leonardo da Vinci is an Italian artist of the 15th century. This multi-talented man was a painter, architect, engineer and many other professions, he possessed a wide range of knowledge on countless subjects. Much of his career is based on learning human anatomy which he uses for his designs. This Renaissance painter has since become world famous and his works are often reproduced and parodied. He is a source of inspiration for more than one contemporary artist.

8. “ I don’t paint what I see, I paint what I think. " - Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso , real name Pablo Ruiz Picasso, is a 19th century Spanish painter. He is the leader of the Cubist movement. He began painting at the age of 8, alongside his father. In his works, he represents geometric figures. In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, he painted one of his most famous paintings: Guernica . This gigantic work measuring 3.49 meters by 7.77 meters, of a political nature, quickly became known throughout the world. The artist goes through two periods: the blue period and the pink period. During his blue period, the color blue dominated his works such as Las Dos Hermanas dating from 1904. During his pink period, in 1905 he painted an oil on canvas entitled The Boy with the Pipe. In total, he created more than 50,000 works in different media during his life as an artist.

9. “ What I like about photos is that they capture a moment that is gone forever, impossible to reproduce. " - Karl Lagerfeld

Here is a very beautiful quote from the great Karl Lagerfeld. The stylist, designer and photographer born in 1933, known for his white hair and his pair of black glasses, is an art icon. Mainly in the world of fashion, he was a great photographer during his lifetime. Before becoming a fashion designer, he drew and thanks to this passion, he became an illustrator. His career then began, and he quickly became one of the greatest stylists in the world and inspired thousands of people. He photographs his collections himself and takes numerous portraits used by several brands. Died in 2019, he still inspires artists and will remain an unbeatable artist.

10. “ Time runs and passes and only our death can catch up with it. Photography is an ax that captures in eternity the moment that dazzled it. " -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson is a famous French photographer and designer of the 20th century. In his black and white photos, he most often represents unusual moments of everyday life. He will fight against fascism and for the independence of Indonesia alongside his wife Eli. In 1947, accompanied by several other photographers such as Robert Capa, he created an agency: Magnum Photos. In 2014, the Center Pompidou will exhibit his photographs in a vast retrospective to pay tribute to him.

In summary, a quote is a remarkable statement or expression that is worth repeating or quoting because of its relevance, wisdom, beauty, or impact.