Tom Bissell Quotes

I have to say that I reject somewhat the distinction between something called art and something called public art. I think all art demands and desires to be seen.

Criticism is the windows and chandeliers of art: it illuminates the enveloping darkness in which art might otherwise rest only vaguely discernible, and perhaps altogether unseen.

I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product.

The humblest painter is a true scholar; and the best of scholars the scholar of nature.

Art is truth.

Burzum is not a political or religious band, or even an anti-religious band. Burzum is music - art if you like - and the interpretation of art lies in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty is a form of genius -- is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation.

Even luxuries are arranged according to ideas and ideals, to make them reflect as much of thought-life as possible - and this is Art.

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.

I respect artists so much, and I absolutely love music as the ultimate art.

My first love is art, and I see a lot of things in an artistic way.

It's clever, but is it Art?

Art is good, bad, boring, ugly, useful to us or not.

Music must take rank as the highest of the fine arts - as the one which, more than any other, ministers to the human spirit.

For me, art is always a kind of theater.

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.

Now, there are so many movies, so many festivals, and so many awards going on, each judged with each other, like your work is worse than others and that's not fair. How can you tell what's best and what's worst from these awards? We're talking about art.

Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.

Art is the objectification of feeling.

I make pictures and someone comes in and calls it art.

I've loved art for more than 30 years.

We need art more than ever as we stagger toward the Millennium.

I cannot draw to save my life, and I'm not a big art scholar, but I worked with many designers throughout my career - in theater, in dance, costume designers, set designers, and I have a lot of artist friends and I do photography, and I think it's kind of in my life.

Art requires philosophy, just as philosophy requires art. Otherwise, what would become of beauty?

Art is anything people do with distinction.