A realization and a dissection of the canon gave rise to the work. But there's also a sneaking suspicion of the canon.

I think there's something important in going against the grain, and perhaps finding value in things that aren't necessarily institutionally recognized.

This is something that, as artists, we constantly deal with-throwing away the past, slaying the father, and creating the new. This desire to throw away the old rules.

The backgrounds by design are a very key part of the conversation, because I want a kind of fight or pressure to exist between the figure and the background.

All art is self-portraiture.

Painting is situational. And my particular situation exists within gender, race, class, sexuality, nation.

I believe that artists should be part of the culture. I think that my work clearly bears that out.

The art world has become so insular. The rules have become so autodidactic that, in a sense, they lose track of what people have any interest in thinking about, talking about or even looking at.

We have a lot of sort of received historical ways of viewing portraiture. And I suppose in some way I'm sort of questioning that by toying with the rules of the game.

We're wired to be empathetic and to care about the needs of others, but also to be curious about others. And I think that's just sort of in our DNA. And so portraiture is a very human act.

I guess art is in the eye of the beholder.

She Had a Wish, To Leave This Old Town, and See the World Out there

Everyone is longing for love, everyone is suffering from the needs and wants, so be loving, kind, and compassionate to everyone.

The way to be safe is never to be secure.

The best political, social, and spiritual work we can do is to withdraw the projection of our shadow onto others.

At the moment of birth you are the product of everything that has occurred in every lifetime you've had.

A statesman makes the occasion, but the occasion makes the politician.

I love London, and it's a privilege for my children to grow up here.

[Donald Trump] is a man known for a large personality, a colorful style and lots of charisma. And so I guess he was just looking for some balance on the ticket.

You are already that which you want to be, and your refusal to believe this is the only reason you do not see it.

The world is a story we tell ourselves about the world.