Agency Quote by Vivek Shraya
“I am more likely to get paid for my art if it's presented alongside a white artist, so the questions around value and agency arise: What choices should I make, or do I have to make, if I want to be compensated for my work? Why isn't my art valued on its own?”
About This Quote
The speaker highlights systemic bias where non‑white artists must align with white counterparts to gain financial recognition, questioning how market structures devalue their work independently.
In simple terms: Artistic value is skewed by race‑based market bias.
Key Takeaway
Racial bias undermines fair compensation.
Themes
systemic racism
art market
cultural appropriation
economic inequality
identity politics
Mood
frustration
determination
hope
Type
social commentary
personal testimony
When to use this quote
- gallery exhibitions
- online sales platforms
- artist collaborations
- grant applications
- curatorial decisions
Key Concepts
bias
value perception
agency
representation
Practical Applications
- advocacy for equitable pricing
- building independent distribution channels
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists restructure pricing to reflect intrinsic worth?
- What policies could enforce equitable valuation across racial lines?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that market demand, not race, determines price, but data shows persistent disparities favoring white artists.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
