Andres Serrano Quotes

If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity, that's when things get bent.

Senator Helms might very well do that. I would point out to him that we in the art world are not necessarily in the business of making controversial art.

Concerning First Amendment fetishism - A federal subsidy for a photo of a crucifix suspended in a jar of urine is fine, but religious figures on stamps are offensive.

The theater is the 'church' and when I'm on that stage I am the Priest/Pastor, it is a pure spiritual journey for me.

Not everything we do as artists has deep intent. If we push barriers, that's great, but sometimes we just do our work. Whether we make some kind of statement, consciously or unconsciously, we shouldn't take the innocence away from what we do.

I am highly susceptible to the force of all truly religious music, especially to the music of my own church, the church of Shelley, Michelangelo, and Beethoven.

Yes, the kingdom of Christianity and the Church has been one of the most destructive forces in history, and there are levels of bastardization of religious beliefs. But the unique thing about Christianity is that it is so amorphous and not reductive to culture or place or anything. It's extremely malleable.

Art is manipulation without intervention.

It would be difficult, in this day and age, to fund art that made racial slurs.

[Hermogenes] despises God's law in his painting, maintains repeated marriages [almost certainly a reference to remarrying after divorce or perhaps even widowhood, which Tertullian, who became a Montanist, opposed], alleges the law of God in defense of lust [likely same reference], and yet despises it in respect of his art.

There's nothing wrong with provocative art work: I even look forward to the day when I can take pictures which will disturb even me.

... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a blank canvas. My pretensions go no further; that is my right to paint, my reason for painting.

As a matter of history great developments in art have often been remarkably separate from religious motivation and use.

I don't feel any obligation to make my intentions for a song accessible to a listener or an audience. I'm not interested in conveying anything to them so much as what's best for me.

Some may find them merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is wrong? Not I.

A church is something very beautiful. It is nice when people feel happy in it. But I am not a religious man. Look at us, and then at the infinity of space. We are rather small insignificant creatures, wouldn’t you say?

What is a church?—Our honest sexton tells, 'Tis a tall building, with a tower and bells.

As taxpayers, we have quietly accepted the fact that our taxes will be spent to pay big bucks for all sorts of ugly, twisted metal to be displayed in front of or inside government buildings, in the name of 'art' that was obviously never meant to give the public any enjoyment and often represented a thumbing of the artist's nose at the public.

Art is the expression of an enormous preference.

Art is not a democracy. People don't get to vote on how it ends.

I don't think that there's that much difference between a photograph of a fist up someone's ass and a photograph of carnations in a bowl.

The key to attempting to create art in some aspect is also knowing that it will turn some people off.

All art is propaganda.

A work of art, so far as it is a work of art, cannot - whatever the artist's personal intention - advocate anything at all.

In art the search for a content which is collectively understandable is false; the content will always be individual.