The promise of any artwork is that it can hold us - viewer and maker - in a conflicted or contestable space, without real-world injury or loss. Kara Walker artworkconflictcontestable Change image and share on social
I was making big paintings with mythological themes. When I started painting black figures, the white professors were relieved, and the black students were like, 'She's on our side.' These are the kinds of issues that a white male artist just doesn't have to deal with. Kara Walker artistbigblack share on social
I never learned how to be adequately black. I never learned how to be black at all. Kara Walker adequatelyblacklearn Change image and share on social
Sugar crystallizes something in our American soul. It is emblematic of all industrial processes. And of the idea of becoming white. White being equated with pure and 'true': it takes a lot of energy to turn brown things into white things. A lot of pressure. Kara Walker americanbrowncrystallize share on social
I'm fascinated with the stories that we tell. Real histories become fantasies and fairy tales, morality tales and fables. There's something interesting and funny and perverse about the way fairytale sometimes passes for history, for truth. Kara Walker fablefairyfairytale share on social
The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else. Kara Walker eventhistoryillusion Change image and share on social
I trust my hand. If I go into a space with a roll of paper, I can make a work, some kind of work, and feel pretty satisfied. Kara Walker feelhandkind Change image and share on social
I've seen people glaze over when they're confronted with racism, and there's nothing more, you know, damning and demeaning to having any kind of ideology than people just walking the walk and saying what they're supposed to say and nodding, and nobody feels anything. Kara Walker confrontdamndemean share on social
Once you open up the Pandora's box of race and gender... you're never done. Kara Walker boxgenderopen Change image and share on social
I don't know how much I believe in redemptive stories, even though people want them and strive for them. Kara Walker peopleredemptivestory Change image and share on social
