--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, something that you might be able…" description: "\"I think, something that you might be able to locate in the work that I'm creating today: the ability to look at a black America as something that not o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg" --- # I think, something that you might be able to locate in the… ![“I think, something that you might be able to locate in the work that I'm creating today: the ability to look at a black America as something that not only can be mined in a very sort of cynical, cold way, but also embraced in a very personal, love-driven way; but also sort of critiqued.” quote by Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg) > “I think, something that you might be able to locate in the work that I'm creating today: the ability to look at a black America as something that not only can be mined in a very sort of cynical, cold way, but also embraced in a very personal, love-driven way; but also sort of critiqued.” [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art can simultaneously critique systemic oppression and celebrate Black identity through love and intimacy. **In simple terms:** Dual‑lens representation Key Takeaway Critique and love coexist Themes race identity artistic critique affection Mood hopeful thoughtful Type artistic cultural When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - educational curricula - community dialogues Key Concepts black experience cynical analysis personal affection Practical Applications - reframing narratives - fostering empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does love reshape critique? - What balance between analysis and affection is effective? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-america/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Critiqued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critiqued-834306/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Cynical Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical-cold-1082589/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Personal love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-love/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want to be critiqued about the way that I look on the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-don-t-want-to-be-critiqued-about-the-way-that-i-look-on-the-internet/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [“IN MY SO-CALLED CAREER, I'VE OFTEN WRITTEN THINGS THAT I VAINLY THOUGHT WERE INCREDIBLY GOOD AND THAT I ENJOYED READING SO MUCH I FIGURED…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/in-my-so-called-career-i-ve-often-written-things-that-i-vainly/) [Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/) > [As a journalist, I never critiqued anyone. I never review books. I've never felt qualified as a musician to say whether someone is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/as-a-journalist-i-never-critiqued-anyone-i-never-review-books-i-ve/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [No one wants to be picked at. At the end of the day, we're all human beings with feelings and emotions. Nobody wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-reigns/no-one-wants-to-be-picked-at-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-re-all-human/) [Roman Reigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-reigns/) > [Anytime something is a little new and a little fresh, it's going to be critiqued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/anytime-something-is-a-little-new-and-a-little-fresh-it-s-going-to-be/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [It's good to get critiqued, so you can get better - and I want to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/it-s-good-to-get-critiqued-so-you-can-get-better-and-i-want-to-do-that/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [As a model, part of my job is to be critiqued physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/as-a-model-part-of-my-job-is-to-be-critiqued-physically/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [Be generous with your time and your resources and with giving credit and, especially, with your words. It's so much easier to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/be-generous-with-your-time-and-your-resources-and-with-giving-credit/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [You need to learn to write on demand, and to get critiqued without flinching. When someone can rip your work to shreds without it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-need-to-learn-to-write-on-demand-and-to-get-critiqued-without/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [You're always working to improve, and you're always being critiqued on your next performance. It's not about what you've done. There's always room to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/you-re-always-working-to-improve-and-you-re-always-being-critiqued-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Sagittarius needs to learn to not act defensively when critiqued, especially when dealing with the ones they care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sagittarius-needs-to-learn-to-not-act-defensively-when-critiqued/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dogma of suspicion must be critiqued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dogma-of-suspicion-must-be-critiqued/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think a woman who is successful is critiqued more harshly than a man is critiqued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stroman/i-think-a-woman-who-is-successful-is-critiqued-more-harshly-than-a/) [Susan Stroman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stroman/) > [We're being critiqued every day, whether you hear them critiquing you, or it's behind your back, whether it's the client, casting, friends, agents -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/we-re-being-critiqued-every-day-whether-you-hear-them-critiquing-you/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [I have now lived long enough to know that, whatever our situation, our troubles melt and disappear like frost in the morning sun when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-have-now-lived-long-enough-to-know-that-whatever-our-situation-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## More by Kehinde Wiley > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The erotic and the art historical imagination is something that gets very little play when people talk about my work, and when they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/the-erotic-and-the-art-historical-imagination-is-something-that-gets/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [One of the weirdest things that happened to artists and art criticism was this moment when everyone got cynical and stopped believing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/one-of-the-weirdest-things-that-happened-to-artists-and-art-criticism/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [At its best, what art does is, it points to who we as human beings and what we as human beings value. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/at-its-best-what-art-does-is-it-points-to-who-we-as-human-beings-and/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [My style is in the 21st century. If you look at the process, it goes from photography through Photoshop, where certain features are heightened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/my-style-is-in-the-21st-century-if-you-look-at-the-process-it-goes/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I think the world that I grew up in was like being in this sort of magical artistic garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-the-world-that-i-grew-up-in-was-like-being-in-this-sort-of/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [It was something that came sort of matter-of-factually. Because there - it's like really - real honest engagement with the people around me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/it-was-something-that-came-sort-of-matter-of-factually-because-there/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [We're wired to be empathetic and to care about the needs of others, but also to be curious about others. And I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/we-re-wired-to-be-empathetic-and-to-care-about-the-needs-of-others/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Painting is situational. And my particular situation exists within gender, race, class, sexuality, nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/painting-is-situational-and-my-particular-situation-exists-within/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [There were certain expectations that were assumed of me as a young black American 20th-century - then 20th-century artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/there-were-certain-expectations-that-were-assumed-of-me-as-a-young/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I remember the first time I went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and saw a Kerry James Marshall painting with black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-remember-the-first-time-i-went-to-the-los-angeles-county-museum-of/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I believe that artists should be part of the culture. I think that my work clearly bears that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-believe-that-artists-should-be-part-of-the-culture-i-think-that-my/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I guess art is in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-guess-art-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Just physically, if you looked at the house that I grew up in, my mother created this greenhouse. And surrounded the entire property. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/just-physically-if-you-looked-at-the-house-that-i-grew-up-in-my/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [My interest is in completing an image that is spectacular beyond belief. My fidelity is to the image and the art and not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/my-interest-is-in-completing-an-image-that-is-spectacular-beyond/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) [Explore all 275 Kehinde Wiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think, something that you might be able to locate in the work that I'm creating today: the ability to look at a black America as something that not only can be mined in a very sort of cynical, cold way, but also embraced in a very personal, love-driven way; but also sort of critiqued.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kehinde Wiley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able-to-locate-in-the-work-that-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able-to-locate-in-the-work-that-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/kehinde-wiley-1194_ability_i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able_86131.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think, something that you might be able to locate in the work that I'm creating today: the ability to look…” — Kehinde Wiley", "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": "Kehinde Wiley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think, something that you might...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able-to-locate-in-the-work-that-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-something-that-you-might-be-able-to-locate-in-the-work-that-i/#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 } } ] } ```