--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think about the way we experience…" description: "\"If you think about the way we experience art, the paradigm is still Western European. If I go to the National Gallery, what am I going to see the most ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_if-you-think-about-the-way-we-experience_644503.jpg" --- # If you think about the way we experience art, the paradigm… ![“If you think about the way we experience art, the paradigm is still Western European. If I go to the National Gallery, what am I going to see the most of? I'm not going to see a whole lot of black figures in pictures.” quote by Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_if-you-think-about-the-way-we-experience_644503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_if-you-think-about-the-way-we-experience_644503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_if-you-think-about-the-way-we-experience_644503.jpg) > “If you think about the way we experience art, the paradigm is still Western European. If I go to the National Gallery, what am I going to see the most of? I'm not going to see a whole lot of black figures in pictures.” [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dominant view of art in major museums reflects a Western European bias, marginalizing non‑Western and Black perspectives. **In simple terms:** Western museums favor European art, limiting Black representation. Key Takeaway Seek diverse art experiences and support inclusive curation. Themes representation bias diversity museum studies Mood critical reflective Type analytical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - visits to museums - art education - curatorial work - community outreach Key Concepts colonialism visual culture inclusion Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions broaden their collections? - What role do viewers play in demanding diversity? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched curatorial practices takes time and institutional will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Paradigm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigm/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to be an artist, go to every art gallery, if you want to be in movies, see movies! 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Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-have-no-favorite-museum-but-it-could-be-the-national-gallery-in/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [“When the Nazis took Paris, the director of the Toledo Museum of Art wrote to David Finley, director of the not yet opened National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-edsel/when-the-nazis-took-paris-the-director-of-the-toledo-museum-of-art/) [Robert M. Edsel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-edsel/) > [Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? 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Or the national gallery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/if-god-meant-for-pictures-to-be-sent-through-the-air-he-d-have-never/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [But back to your question, it was a wonderful experience with the Art Ensemble, and I keep in contact and sort of follow what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jarman/but-back-to-your-question-it-was-a-wonderful-experience-with-the-art/) [Joseph Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jarman/) > [In the experience of art, time seems not to exist. When I'm writing and think, "I've been working for two hours," I've actually been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/in-the-experience-of-art-time-seems-not-to-exist-when-i-m-writing-and/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Experience. The art of getting it right, hopefully the second time around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen-barry/experience-the-art-of-getting-it-right-hopefully-the-second-time/) [Clive Owen Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen-barry/) ## More by Kerry James Marshall > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. 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It's a big and important milestone and a fulfillment of one of my primary ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/my-dream-was-always-to-be-in-museums-it-s-a-big-and-important/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [ In \[Ralph\] Ellison's case, it's more psychological than it is phenomenal, and it's conditioned by anger, animosity, and lack of desire to engage with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/in-ralph-ellison-s-case-it-s-more-psychological-than-it-is-phenomenal/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [When I started, I was aware of using the black as a rhetorical device. 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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. 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