Artist Quote by Josh Smith
“I made work specifically for them not to like. If you made paintings of flowers and someone says they hate it, it's like, "What do you mean? It's a flower!" But if you make a painting of your name and somebody says they hate it, it's like, "Well, why would you like a painting of my name anyway?"”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art Talk Podcast, 2015
Creating work that provokes discomfort challenges audience expectations and reveals personal bias.
In simple terms: Provocative art tests viewers.
Key Takeaway
Embrace discomfort to spark dialogue.
Themes
art
provocation
audience perception
artist intent
bias
Mood
challenging
reflective
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gallery openings
- public installations
- artist statements
- critical reviews
Key Concepts
psychology
aesthetics
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does discomfort foster deeper engagement?
- What responsibilities do artists have to their audience?
A Different Perspective
Some viewers may reject the work outright, limiting its impact.
![“I would never make an artwork that I wouldn't want to make forever. Wouldn't you want to make Trash Humpers [Korine's 2009 film] forever?” quote by Josh Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/341/josh-smith-32519_artwork_i-would-never-make-an-artwork-that-i-wou_2619087.jpg)
