Author: Kara Walker

Quotes

The promise of any artwork is that it can hold us - viewer and maker - in a conflicted or contestable space, without real-world injury or loss.

The promise of any artwork is that it can hold us - viewer and maker - in a conflicted or contestable space, without real-world injury or loss.

- Kara Walker

I took a political stance early on, but I don't think my work is overtly political. I respond to events.

I took a political stance early on, but I don't think my work is overtly political. I respond to events.

- Kara Walker

I'm a sponge for historical images of black people and black history on film.

I'm a sponge for historical images of black people and black history on film.

- Kara Walker

Humor's always been the problem of my work, hasn't it? When working, I feel satisfied when I surprise myself. And when I surprise myself, I wind up laughing.

Humor's always been the problem of my work, hasn't it? When working, I feel satisfied when I surprise myself. And when I surprise myself, I wind up laughing.

- Kara Walker

My work is really abject and self-effacing sometimes. I mean, it's big and overwrought, but it's just paper dolls, and it's kind of silly.

My work is really abject and self-effacing sometimes. I mean, it's big and overwrought, but it's just paper dolls, and it's kind of silly.

- Kara Walker

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

- Kara Walker

I don't think that my work is very moralistic - at least, I try to avoid that. I grew up with that sermonising tendency, and I don't think visual work operates like that.

I don't think that my work is very moralistic - at least, I try to avoid that. I grew up with that sermonising tendency, and I don't think visual work operates like that.

- Kara Walker

I have no interest in making a work that doesn't elicit a feeling.

I have no interest in making a work that doesn't elicit a feeling.

- Kara Walker

I trust my hand. If I go into a space with a roll of paper, I can make a work, some kind of work, and feel pretty satisfied.

I trust my hand. If I go into a space with a roll of paper, I can make a work, some kind of work, and feel pretty satisfied.

- Kara Walker

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