Geri Allen

The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.

Can anybody be given creativity? No. Only equipment to develop it if it’s in them in the first place.

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

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.’

Mother’s taste was eclectic and ranged from the ancient world to the contemporary from Europe to the U.S.

All art inspires me. Life inspires me. The art of life, thus my own art.

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.

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.

The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refinement in their art. They try to produce beautiful paintings with the minimum number of strokes.

The essence of all Art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.

Art is self expression. If you are expressing someone else’s personality, that is not art.

Art is constant tension and release. That is where artists live, between the two or at times, submerged in either.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

I’m just an individual who doesn’t feel that I need to have somebody qualify my work in any particular way. I’m working for me.

If you believe in your art and you love what you do, that energy will go out and people will respond.