---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I found out after that first…"
description: "\"When I found out after that first successful exhibition that the gallery wanted me to do another show like the first one, I come out two years later wi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/betty-dodson-15856_artist_when-i-found-out-after-that-first-succes_2263087.jpg"
---

#  When I found out after that first successful exhibition…

![“When I found out after that first successful exhibition that the gallery wanted me to do another show like the first one, I come out two years later with four 6-foot drawings of classical nudes masturbating. The gallery director flipped the freak out!” quote by Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/betty-dodson-15856_artist_when-i-found-out-after-that-first-succes_2263087.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/betty-dodson-15856_artist_when-i-found-out-after-that-first-succes_2263087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/betty-dodson-15856_artist_when-i-found-out-after-that-first-succes_2263087.jpg)

> “When I found out after that first successful exhibition that the gallery wanted me to do another show like the first one, I come out two years later with four 6-foot drawings of classical nudes masturbating. The gallery director flipped the freak out!”

[Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Artists may resist commercial expectations, creating provocative work that challenges norms.

**In simple terms:** Artist rebels against gallery.

Key Takeaway

Create authentic, bold art.

Themes

art rebellion sexuality

Mood

defiant energetic

Type

artistic controversial

When to use this quote

- gallery shows
- public exhibitions
- artist statements

Key Concepts

censorship artistic freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- When does art become too confrontational?
- How to balance personal vision with audience expectations?

A Different Perspective

Provocative art can alienate audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Classical Nudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-nudes-5214680/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Exhibitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibitions/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Flipped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flipped/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Gallery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallery/) [Masturbating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masturbating/) [Masturbating Gallery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masturbating-gallery-5214677/) [Nudes Masturbating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nudes-masturbating-5214679/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Exhibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-exhibition-5214678/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/)

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> [When it comes to masturbating, my hand can be one of the biggest jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/when-it-comes-to-masturbating-my-hand-can-be-one-of-the-biggest-jerks/)

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> [If I get caught masturbating, I don't have to explain myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/if-i-get-caught-masturbating-i-don-t-have-to-explain-myself/)

[Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/)

> [Oh, that's me. I'm just masturbating. Well, if you keep interrupting me it will take a little bit longer. But usually it just takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/due-date/oh-that-s-me-i-m-just-masturbating-well-if-you-keep-interrupting-me/)

[Due Date](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/due-date/)

> [“I can't," I said. "I threw my back out masturbating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-can-t-i-said-i-threw-my-back-out-masturbating/)

[Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/)

> [“Hey Sin, are you masturbating in there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/hey-sin-are-you-masturbating-in-there/)

[James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/)

> [I was, uh, masturbating. - me when I don't want to admit I was in the bathroom for 30 minutes playing Angry Birds or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-was-uh-masturbating-me-when-i-don-t-want-to-admit-i-was-in-the/)

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> [That whole thing about masturbating. Most girls, I guess nobody has to tell them, they just figure it out. I had to be told.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/that-whole-thing-about-masturbating-most-girls-i-guess-nobody-has-to/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [“I will say it here on louder, all people to can hear it. I "DeYtH Banger" - I have masturbating problem ): .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/i-will-say-it-here-on-louder-all-people-to-can-hear-it-i-deyth-banger/)

[Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/)

> [“Masturbation and meditation both promote physical and mental wellbeing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/masturbation-and-meditation-both-promote-physical-and-mental-wellbeing/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [My friends keep telling me I'm doing it with Mary Palmer. That's not true - I'm too busy masturbating to meet anyone new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/my-friends-keep-telling-me-i-m-doing-it-with-mary-palmer-that-s-not/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [Time flies when you're masturbating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-flies-when-you-re-masturbating/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Betty Dodson

> [It's just blind luck when a woman is born into a wealthy family and attends the best colleges and joins top sororities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/it-s-just-blind-luck-when-a-woman-is-born-into-a-wealthy-family-and/)

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> [The powers that be understand that sexual freedom or liberation with any kind of joy means they are losing control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/the-powers-that-be-understand-that-sexual-freedom-or-liberation-with/)

[Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

> [A monogamous marriage and family is what some women want - but not all of us. We are mostly doing serial monogamy anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/a-monogamous-marriage-and-family-is-what-some-women-want-but-not-all/)

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> [Art is all about becoming a name, a brand; it isn't based on talent or creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/art-is-all-about-becoming-a-name-a-brand-it-isn-t-based-on-talent-or/)

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> [Masturbation is our first and natural form of sexual activity and if that's inhibited or damaged, then we suffer for the rest of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/masturbation-is-our-first-and-natural-form-of-sexual-activity-and-if/)

[Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

> [I had very little support from any feminist organization. But fortunately my post-marital lover, who had bailed out of academia over political in-fighting, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/i-had-very-little-support-from-any-feminist-organization-but/)

[Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

> [I consider the 70s to be the youth of old age. So all you women out there who are afraid of getting older, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/i-consider-the-70s-to-be-the-youth-of-old-age-so-all-you-women-out/)

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> [Men are hung up on breasts. They're looking at the titty dinner. It's pathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/men-are-hung-up-on-breasts-they-re-looking-at-the-titty-dinner-it-s/)

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> [Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice! That's the condition of the female. Women have been conditioned to sacrifice for centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-dodson/sacrifice-sacrifice-sacrifice-that-s-the-condition-of-the-female/)

[Betty Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

[Explore all 39 Betty Dodson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-dodson/)

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> [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/)

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> [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/)

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> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

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> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

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> [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/)

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> [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/)

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