Amount Quote by Fred Tomaselli
“The small amount of people that control the discourse around painting - I thought that the whole museum world was just a bunch of phonies, and I didn't really want to have anything to do with it. I guess I did installations, in a funny way, because they couldn't be commodified.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art discussion, 2015, Los Angeles; personal statement on art institutions
He feels the art world is dominated by a few, leading him to create installations that resist commodification.
In simple terms: He sees the museum system as elitist and makes work that cannot be sold.
Key Takeaway
Create art that challenges market forces and institutional control.
Themes
elitism
art market
authenticity
resistance
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
activist
When to use this quote
- gallery shows
- public installations
- artist collectives
Key Concepts
commodification
institutional critique
creative freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to make art that cannot be bought?
- How can artists influence institutional change?
A Different Perspective
Some audiences may misinterpret or ignore the anti‑commercial message.
