Joel-Peter Witkin Quotes

I wanted my photographs to be as powerful as the last thing a person sees or remembers before death.

Artists are the people among us who realize creation didn't stop on the sixth day.

I have consecrated my life to changing matter into spirit with the hope of someday seeing it all.

Extreme things are like miracles. Nothing is as boring as a person who is just okay.

If there is pain in my photographs, it relates to the pain in my own existence.

I operate out of confusion, towards clarity.

My purpose is to acknowledge the wonder of being part of Creation. Though I myself don't create anything, I make from what has been created.

My work would have the impact of my unreality - my doubts.

I could easily live in a world populated with disjunctive, bizarre things.