Van Cliburn

An artist can only be evaluated after he’s dead. At the 11th hour he might do something that will eclipse everything else.

In the field of art, to be able to have lunch with Kirk Varnedoe is thrilling. I met him at Si and Victoria Newhouse’s dinner one night. Barnett Newman’s widow was there. That’s the part of me that’s a fan. Like when I was a kid and went to the Brooklyn Paramount. Well, my interest has expanded, and it’s not just rock-and-roll.

It’s like telling Michelangelo: ‘I know you painted this dope angel, that was really good, but Michelangelo, I don’t think you can paint a cow.’

There is no art without intention.

The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.

I got more publicity for not doing a festival than for doing the festival.

The conventional notions of art have changed, and a lot of things done today are considered works of art that would have been rejected in the past.

Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.

An artist can only be evaluated after he’s dead. At the 11th hour he might do something that will eclipse everything else.

I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.

Make the best of every moment. We’re not evolving. We’re not going anywhere.

They decided to establish a museum of modern art where works by contemporary artists would be shown. Mother was viewed as a very progressive person, and not everybody liked the paintings she bought.

I’ve always felt that a lot of modern art is a con, and that the most successful painters are often better salesmen and promoters than they are artists.

Mother’s interest in contemporary American artists emerged during the 1920s.

Truth exists in art.

Bad artists imitate, great artists steal.