--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every art critic and every writer doesn't…" description: "\"Every art critic and every writer doesn't have a frame to start off from. If I made a statement saying, \"This is Abstract Expressionism,\" they could go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/damian-loeb-14286_abstract_every-art-critic-and-every-writer-doesn_3113269.jpg" --- # Every art critic and every writer doesn't have a frame to… ![“Every art critic and every writer doesn't have a frame to start off from. If I made a statement saying, "This is Abstract Expressionism," they could go, "Well, he failed miserably," or, "Fantastic, this is a new genius!" But in art history, I don't see any of the artists I like spewing bullshit. I…” quote by Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/damian-loeb-14286_abstract_every-art-critic-and-every-writer-doesn_3113269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/damian-loeb-14286_abstract_every-art-critic-and-every-writer-doesn_3113269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/damian-loeb-14286_abstract_every-art-critic-and-every-writer-doesn_3113269.jpg) > “Every art critic and every writer doesn't have a frame to start off from. If I made a statement saying, "This is Abstract Expressionism," they could go, "Well, he failed miserably," or, "Fantastic, this is a new genius!" But in art history, I don't see any of the artists I like spewing bullshit. I don't see anyone recording it or pronouncing what they were doing.” [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics and writers often lack a clear starting point, leading to wildly differing judgments of art, while genuine artists rarely self‑label their work. **In simple terms:** Critics lack frames, artists avoid labels. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of personal vision over external labels. Themes art criticism subjectivity authenticity Mood conflicted reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - gallery openings - art school discussions - creative brainstorming - self‑promotion - public exhibitions Key Concepts labeling interpretation artist intent Questions to Reflect On - How do labels shape your perception of art? - Can you appreciate work without a predefined category? A Different Perspective Not all art fits neatly into categories, and labels can limit perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstract expressionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract-expressionism/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-critic/) [Art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-history/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Expressionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressionism/) [Expressionism Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressionism-failed-5443124/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-art-2029213/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [When I was going to school and under the influence of Abstract Expressionism, I believed that if you had a give-and-take rapport with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/when-i-was-going-to-school-and-under-the-influence-of-abstract/) [Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/) > [There was something about the self-confession and self-confusion of Abstract expressionism - as though the man and the work were the same - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/there-was-something-about-the-self-confession-and-self-confusion-of/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I went to the Mary Lee Burbank School in Belmont. And it was a place where you, like, learned to go to the store?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-went-to-the-mary-lee-burbank-school-in-belmont-and-it-was-a-place/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [I wanted to be a painter, somewhere between Abstract Expressionism and Pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-huey/i-wanted-to-be-a-painter-somewhere-between-abstract-expressionism-and/) [Aaron Huey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-huey/) > [I was a student at Harvard, and that's where I learned about so-called avant-garde music. Jackson Pollock, abstract expressionism and painting were well known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-was-a-student-at-harvard-and-that-s-where-i-learned-about-so-called/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [The big shock of my life was Abstract Expressionism - Pollock, de Kooning, those guys. It changed my work. I was an academically trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/the-big-shock-of-my-life-was-abstract-expressionism-pollock-de/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [But no one, when you stop to think, has ever equated abstract expressionism as a movement with jazz music. It's based on improvisation. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romare-bearden/but-no-one-when-you-stop-to-think-has-ever-equated-abstract/) [Romare Bearden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romare-bearden/) > [We live in an age when the traditional great subjects - the human form, the landscape, even newer traditions such as abstract expressionism -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/we-live-in-an-age-when-the-traditional-great-subjects-the-human-form/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I would be constantly brought up on the carpet by these teachers who were brought up with Abstract Expressionism, saying, "You're too uptight, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-would-be-constantly-brought-up-on-the-carpet-by-these-teachers-who/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [Abstract Expressionism - the first American movement to have a worldwide influence - was remarkably short-lived: It heated up after World War II and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/abstract-expressionism-the-first-american-movement-to-have-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [With experience it seems to be possible to control the flow of paint, to a great extent, and I don't use - I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/with-experience-it-seems-to-be-possible-to-control-the-flow-of-paint/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [Abstract expressionism was the first American art that was filled with anger as well as beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/abstract-expressionism-was-the-first-american-art-that-was-filled/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [I think more than writers, the major influences on me have been European movies, jazz, and Abstract Expressionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-think-more-than-writers-the-major-influences-on-me-have-been/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I don't use the accident - 'cause I deny the accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/i-don-t-use-the-accident-cause-i-deny-the-accident/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) ## More by Damian Loeb > [I started getting afraid of dying. I don't have any religion and I wanted to understand something about these greater powers without anthropomorphizing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-started-getting-afraid-of-dying-i-don-t-have-any-religion-and-i/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I've always wished that I had a great ability to verbalize art theory and find a way that I fit in to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-ve-always-wished-that-i-had-a-great-ability-to-verbalize-art-theory/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [It's been so much a part of my life the thinking that I go through is crucial. I found that if I don't paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/it-s-been-so-much-a-part-of-my-life-the-thinking-that-i-go-through-is/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [Each painting, I feel like I kind of might have gotten something. If I feel like I totally got it, there's probably something wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/each-painting-i-feel-like-i-kind-of-might-have-gotten-something-if-i/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [If it weren't for how esoteric the art world likes to be, I would love actually to play the music in the shows, painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/if-it-weren-t-for-how-esoteric-the-art-world-likes-to-be-i-would-love/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I always thought being an artist was a lazy job. I was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-always-thought-being-an-artist-was-a-lazy-job-i-was-wrong/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [All I want to do is realism and follow the tradition of realism. And explore what realism should be now be after the ubiquity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/all-i-want-to-do-is-realism-and-follow-the-tradition-of-realism-and/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [You just can't control your art in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/you-just-can-t-control-your-art-in-the-future/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [We discard the personal specifics which don't conform to the ideal conventional beauty created by art directors and cinematographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/we-discard-the-personal-specifics-which-don-t-conform-to-the-ideal/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [Every show I've done, I've just wanted to understand something of this weird life that I woke up in. I've never woken up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/every-show-i-ve-done-i-ve-just-wanted-to-understand-something-of-this/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I had no interest in high school besides art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-had-no-interest-in-high-school-besides-art/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I'm a painter, I'm an artist. I take things too far sometimes. I really need some comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-m-a-painter-i-m-an-artist-i-take-things-too-far-sometimes-i-really/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I have always been interested in having people fall into the image and be aware of their reaction first, and then think about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-have-always-been-interested-in-having-people-fall-into-the-image/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [I wanted to finally feel better about understanding. I painted my wife because I wanted to understand her. I can talk to her, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-wanted-to-finally-feel-better-about-understanding-i-painted-my-wife/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [Our memories are convenient lies we create, cribbing images from others' experiences. 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It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. 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