I love being a portraitist.

I think there's something important in going against the grain, and perhaps finding value in things that aren't necessarily institutionally recognized.

This is something that, as artists, we constantly deal with-throwing away the past, slaying the father, and creating the new. This desire to throw away the old rules.

The backgrounds by design are a very key part of the conversation, because I want a kind of fight or pressure to exist between the figure and the background.

All art is self-portraiture.

Painting is situational. And my particular situation exists within gender, race, class, sexuality, nation.

I believe that artists should be part of the culture. I think that my work clearly bears that out.

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.

We have a lot of sort of received historical ways of viewing portraiture. And I suppose in some way I'm sort of questioning that by toying with the rules of the game.

We're wired to be empathetic and to care about the needs of others, but also to be curious about others. And I think that's just sort of in our DNA. And so portraiture is a very human act.

I guess art is in the eye of the beholder.

Know that you will eventually have to leave everything behind

I’ve always found wildlife very calming-- except when animals are eating each other, of course.

Coincidences are the explanations of lazy and cowardly people for what they don't understand.

But if you knew you might not be able to see it again tomorrow, everything would suddenly become special and precious, wouldn’t it?

Anybody who makes speeches written by someone else is just a robot.

If you don't think God's love for the unlovable is amazing, go try to love someone who hates you for a day. See if that helps.

I think living in our culture right now, there's a universal experience where we feel like we become what we do. Sometimes that's rewarding and sometimes that creates an existential crisis.

Coquettes know how to please, not love, and that is why men love them SO much.

The human creature is alone in his carapace. Poetry is a strong way out.

The government you elect is the government you deserve.