--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The integrity of being an artist for…" description: "\"The integrity of being an artist for Frank Stella means going into the unknown.A great artist is somebody who's not scared to reinvent themselves and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/frank-stella-17787_art_the-integrity-of-being-an-artist-for-fra_364522.jpg" --- # The integrity of being an artist for Frank Stella means… ![“The integrity of being an artist for Frank Stella means going into the unknown.A great artist is somebody who's not scared to reinvent themselves and to start all over again. And some artists do it once, twice, three times in their career. He's done it probably a dozen times or more.” quote by Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/frank-stella-17787_art_the-integrity-of-being-an-artist-for-fra_364522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/frank-stella-17787_art_the-integrity-of-being-an-artist-for-fra_364522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/frank-stella-17787_art_the-integrity-of-being-an-artist-for-fra_364522.jpg) > “The integrity of being an artist for Frank Stella means going into the unknown.A great artist is somebody who's not scared to reinvent themselves and to start all over again. And some artists do it once, twice, three times in their career. He's done it probably a dozen times or more.” [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist must embrace uncertainty, continually reinventing themselves to stay vital; repetition leads to stagnation. **In simple terms:** Artists need constant reinvention. Key Takeaway Be willing to explore unknown creative territories. Themes creativity risk reinvention growth Mood inspirational encouraging Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - starting new projects - changing mediums - career pivots - creative blocks Key Concepts artist identity innovation career evolution Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to deepen existing work? - How do you measure successful reinvention? A Different Perspective Constant change can dilute a coherent artistic voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being an artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-an-artist/) [Great art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-art/) [Great artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-artist/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) ## Related quotes > [Once I really started to understand Frank Stella's work and follow it, there's a certain type of invention and playfulness and extreme rigor with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/once-i-really-started-to-understand-frank-stella-s-work-and-follow-it/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [“It is unfeeling to speak of the people who cooperate in the production of art works as "personnel" or, worse yet, "support personnel", but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-becker/it-is-unfeeling-to-speak-of-the-people-who-cooperate-in-the/) Howard Becker > [You have to be firm when you're protecting your art, your craft, your integrity as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/you-have-to-be-firm-when-you-re-protecting-your-art-your-craft-your/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [They were in the world and not of it--not because they were saints, but in a different way: because they were artists. The integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/they-were-in-the-world-and-not-of-it-not-because-they-were-saints-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I want to be remembered as somebody that tried to respect her integrity as an artist and as a person. And I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-somebody-that-tried-to-respect-her/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [You have bits of canvas that are unpainted and you have these thick stretcher bars. So you see that a painting is an object;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/you-have-bits-of-canvas-that-are-unpainted-and-you-have-these-thick/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I get hired as a writer or producer and I do the best I can to bring out that artist. If somebody calls you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-get-hired-as-a-writer-or-producer-and-i-do-the-best-i-can-to-bring/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [An artist is somebody who enters into competition with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/an-artist-is-somebody-who-enters-into-competition-with-god/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [An artist is somebody that puts themselves in a room, they're a wee bit self-indulgent and you know, sink into their music and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-reid/an-artist-is-somebody-that-puts-themselves-in-a-room-they-re-a-wee/) [Johnny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-reid/) > [“An artist is somebody who enters into competition with God. The guy who built the Tower of Babel was the first artist. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/an-artist-is-somebody-who-enters-into-competition-with-god-the-guy/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/an-artist-is-somebody-who-produces-things-that-people-don-t-need-to/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [As a freelance artist, you have to please somebody instead of just making music. But when the employer trusts and leans on you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/as-a-freelance-artist-you-have-to-please-somebody-instead-of-just/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [What I consider to be the barometer for what is a rock artist and what is not, is somebody who has a certain element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-astbury/what-i-consider-to-be-the-barometer-for-what-is-a-rock-artist-and/) [Ian Astbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-astbury/) > [“Don't be an artist. Be somebody's artist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zev-rector/don-t-be-an-artist-be-somebody-s-artist/) Zev Rector > [If you don't enjoy making work, then it's bad. It's rough. Artwork is brutal for so many people. They let it happen to them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urs-fischer/if-you-don-t-enjoy-making-work-then-it-s-bad-it-s-rough-artwork-is/) [Urs Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urs-fischer/) ## More by Frank Stella > [Any artist can't get away from the way the world works, which is that it wants to know what you did, and you're only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/any-artist-can-t-get-away-from-the-way-the-world-works-which-is-that/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I want to make exalted art. A successful image has pictorial lift. I am looking for whatever is up there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-want-to-make-exalted-art-a-successful-image-has-pictorial-lift-i-am/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [The aim of art is to create space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/the-aim-of-art-is-to-create-space/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [What you see is what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/what-you-see-is-what-you-see/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I always get into arguments with people who want to retain the old values in painting - the humanistic values that they always find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-always-get-into-arguments-with-people-who-want-to-retain-the-old/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [Abstract paintings must be as real as those created by the 16th century Italians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/abstract-paintings-must-be-as-real-as-those-created-by-the-16th/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [When I'm painting the picture, I'm really painting a picture. I may have a flat-footed technique, or something like that, but still, to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/when-i-m-painting-the-picture-i-m-really-painting-a-picture-i-may/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [All I want anyone to get out of my paintings, and all I ever get out of them, is the fact that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/all-i-want-anyone-to-get-out-of-my-paintings-and-all-i-ever-get-out/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [You see what you know!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/you-see-what-you-know/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [You couldn't forget Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Joan Miro either. And it had to be, you know, at least as good or better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/you-couldn-t-forget-pablo-picasso-henri-matisse-and-joan-miro-either/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I never noticed competing with other generations. There's competition within your own generation, but that competition is good. Maybe you're annoyed that somebody's getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-never-noticed-competing-with-other-generations-there-s-competition/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [One learns about painting by looking at and imitating other painters. I can't stress enough how important it is, if you are interested at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/one-learns-about-painting-by-looking-at-and-imitating-other-painters/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I'm more of a house painter.That's the way I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-m-more-of-a-house-painter-that-s-the-way-i-work/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [I don't like to say I have given my life to art. I prefer to say art has given me my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-don-t-like-to-say-i-have-given-my-life-to-art-i-prefer-to-say-art/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [There's a lot of difference between being well known and being notorious and the black paintings didn't make me well known - they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/there-s-a-lot-of-difference-between-being-well-known-and-being/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) [Explore all 36 Frank Stella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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 > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The integrity of being an artist for Frank Stella means going into the unknown.A great artist is somebody who's not scared to reinvent themselves and to start all over again. 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