--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your work may be great and not make its…" description: "\"Your work may be great and not make its way into the big picture... like Van Gogh... so who's to say what's good and bad?\" — Frank Gehry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png" --- # Your work may be great and not make its way into the big… ![“Your work may be great and not make its way into the big picture... like Van Gogh... so who's to say what's good and bad?” quote by Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png) > “Your work may be great and not make its way into the big picture... like Van Gogh... so who's to say what's good and bad?” [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great work may be overlooked, like Van Gogh, questioning who decides artistic value and what defines success **In simple terms:** Great work can be ignored, questioning who decides value Key Takeaway Recognize that value is subjective Themes art recognition subjectivity Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - art exhibitions - career evaluation - personal fulfillment Key Concepts aesthetic judgment cultural bias legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success for yourself? - What role should critics play in art? A Different Perspective May lead to discouragement without external validation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Big picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) ## Related quotes > [ You cannot be the good all the time — sometimes it is necessary to get angry. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-the-good-all-the-time-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-get/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [ \[on pop idol Donny Osmond\] He has Van Gogh's ear for music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/on-pop-idol-donny-osmond-he-has-van-gogh-s-ear-for-music/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I thought it would be very nice to become Picasso or Rembrandt, or a van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bruna/i-thought-it-would-be-very-nice-to-become-picasso-or-rembrandt-or-a/) [Dick Bruna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bruna/) > [I think that the mythology of Van Gogh's life, and the beauty of his paintings, is unstoppable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-childish/i-think-that-the-mythology-of-van-gogh-s-life-and-the-beauty-of-his/) [Billy Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-childish/) > [I have got an iPad, what a joy! Van Gogh would have loved it, and he could have written his letters on it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/i-have-got-an-ipad-what-a-joy-van-gogh-would-have-loved-it-and-he/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [ It's so easy to love. The only hard thing is to be loved. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/it-s-so-easy-to-love-the-only-hard-thing-is-to-be-loved-vincent-van/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [My wife was the first art collector in the family, and I didn't become interested until around 1973. The first important artwork we bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/my-wife-was-the-first-art-collector-in-the-family-and-i-didn-t-become/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Vincent van Gogh's mother painted all of his best things. The famous mailed decapitated ear was a figment of the public relations firm engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/vincent-van-gogh-s-mother-painted-all-of-his-best-things-the-famous/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [I rage against Vincent van Gogh for needing to die at 37, after painting for only ten years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-rage-against-vincent-van-gogh-for-needing-to-die-at-37-after/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Van Gogh, among others, believed in the religion of art, which, whatever else it involved, made it clear that art is more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-kuspit/van-gogh-among-others-believed-in-the-religion-of-art-which-whatever/) Donald Kuspit > [ I will be an artist. I am sure I will. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/i-will-be-an-artist-i-am-sure-i-will-vincent-van-gogh/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > ['The Night Cafe' and 'The Starry Night' still emit such pathos, density, and intensity that they send shivers down the spine. Whether Van Gogh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-night-cafe-and-the-starry-night-still-emit-such-pathos-density/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [If I could have any artist's work on my sitting room wall it would probably be by Van Gogh or Picasso.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-stevenson/if-i-could-have-any-artist-s-work-on-my-sitting-room-wall-it-would/) [Juliet Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-stevenson/) > [The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling. If you don't believe me, ask Van Gogh, who produced masterpiece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-artist-cannot-look-to-others-to-validate-his-efforts-or-his/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Einstein's space is no closer to reality than Van Gogh's sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/einstein-s-space-is-no-closer-to-reality-than-van-gogh-s-sky/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## More by Frank Gehry > [I think my attitudes about the past are very traditional. You can't ignore history; you can't escape it even if you want to. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-think-my-attitudes-about-the-past-are-very-traditional-you-can-t/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [In Tokyo, London or Los Angeles people go into McDonald's and the restaurants are identical and people are comfortable. It's unthreatening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/in-tokyo-london-or-los-angeles-people-go-into-mcdonald-s-and-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I'm inspired by a lot of stuff. I always was interested in sculpture and painting and music and literature and all those things. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-m-inspired-by-a-lot-of-stuff-i-always-was-interested-in-sculpture/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [One of my greatest influences is the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/one-of-my-greatest-influences-is-the-italian-artist-gian-lorenzo/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [People live and work in uninspiring environments, but look inside those rooms. Look at the painted walls and the decorations. People rebel even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/people-live-and-work-in-uninspiring-environments-but-look-inside/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Childhood play is nothing more than an expression of our individuality and preparation for human interaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/childhood-play-is-nothing-more-than-an-expression-of-our/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Ideas exist in the marketplace; they are thrown out for everyone to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/ideas-exist-in-the-marketplace-they-are-thrown-out-for-everyone-to-use/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Green issues have been used as a marketing tool. Sometimes these green claims are completely meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/green-issues-have-been-used-as-a-marketing-tool-sometimes-these-green/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [There are a lot of questions about whether architecture is art. The people who ask that think pretty tract houses are architecture. But that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/there-are-a-lot-of-questions-about-whether-architecture-is-art-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to read more when I was a kid than I do now. It was all sort of fuel for the fire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-read-more-when-i-was-a-kid-than-i-do-now-it-was-all-sort-of/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I found myself starting architecture with a deep social, Jewish, liberal conscience, and the belief that architecture is for the people. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-found-myself-starting-architecture-with-a-deep-social-jewish/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The message I hope to have sent is just the example of being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-message-i-hope-to-have-sent-is-just-the-example-of-being-yourself/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts, that we all have something to put in the pie to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-whole-can-be-greater-than-the-sum-of-it-s-parts-that-we-all-have/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to sketch - that's the way I thought out loud. Then they made a book of my sketches, and I got self-conscious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-sketch-that-s-the-way-i-thought-out-loud-then-they-made-a/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Bilbao opened in 1997. It was only ten years later that I was asked to do another museum. A lot of other people got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/bilbao-opened-in-1997-it-was-only-ten-years-later-that-i-was-asked-to/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) [Explore all 183 Frank Gehry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## More Artist quotes > [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/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [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/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [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/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [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/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [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/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [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/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your work may be great and not make its way into the big picture... like Van Gogh... so who's to say what's good and bad?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Gehry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its-way-into-the-big-picture-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its-way-into-the-big-picture-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/frank-gehry-2139_artist_your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its_1395079.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your work may be great and not make its way into the big picture... like Van Gogh... so who's to say what's…” — Frank Gehry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frank Gehry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your work may be great and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its-way-into-the-big-picture-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/your-work-may-be-great-and-not-make-its-way-into-the-big-picture-like/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```