Quotes by Artists

I like to work with it so that you feel it physically, so you feel the presence of light inhabiting a space. My desire is to set up a situation to which I take you and let you see. It becomes your experience. James Turrell

Work You Experience Light Space Situation See Physically Take Feel Like Becomes Up Which Inhabiting Your Presence Desire Set

I come from a family that does not believe in art to this day. They think art is vanity. James Turrell

Art Day Family Believe Think Vanity Come Does

I want to create an atmosphere that can be consciously plumbed with seeing... like the wordless thought that comes from looking in a fire. James Turrell

Thought Fire Looking Seeing Atmosphere Like Want Create

I have high expectations of my audience, and in general, I would say they've met that. James Turrell

Met Say High Would High Expectations General Audience Expectations

Planets' orbits are elliptical. It's a very pleasing shape. James Turrell

Pleasing Shape Very Planets

I look at light as a material. It is physical. It is photons. Yes, it exhibits wave behavior, but it is a thing. James Turrell

Light Behavior Wave Physical Look Material Yes Thing

I don't worry about whether anyone knows anything about art. James Turrell

Art Worry About Knows Anyone Anything Whether

The people in L.A. do orient themselves to light. I used to call it 'Tan Fascist Culture.' Everyone there is tanned, wears dark sunglasses, looks like a movie star even when they're not. James Turrell

Culture People Dark Light Everyone Sunglasses Wears Like Looks Call Tan Movie Movie Star Themselves Used Orient Even Fascist Star

Usually we are illuminating things instead of looking at the light itself. But I like this quality of the light being the revelation. James Turrell

Quality Light Looking Instead Like Revelation Itself Being Illuminating Things

It's difficult for people to visualize from my drawings what it's going to be, so I often find myself talking them into things that they go along with, and when they see what's been made, they are surprised. James Turrell

Myself People Made Difficult Drawings Find Visualize See Along Talking Go Surprised Been Going Often Them Things

One way to understand light in the ocean of air is by flying it. Life in the air is an extension of perceiving. James Turrell

Life Light Ocean Air Way Flying One-Way Perceiving Understand Extension

I'm working to bring celestial objects like the sun and moon into the spaces that we inhabit. James Turrell

Moon Sun Objects Like Celestial Spaces Inhabit Working Bring

I was waiting for L.A. to always become something important. I gave up... I left in 1974. James Turrell

Waiting Important Become Gave Something Always Left Up

I always thought that people who live in the desert are a little crazy. It could be that the desert attracts that kind of person, or that after living there, you become that. It doesn't make much difference. But now I've done my 40 years in the desert. James Turrell

There aren't many artists who can feel sorry for me. James Turrell

Me Sorry Feel Artists Who Many

The cardones cactus is very similar to saguaro cactus in Arizona. These cacti only grow in very specific, particular places. James Turrell

Similar Only Cactus Arizona Particular Very Places Grow Specific