Jean-Michel Basquiat

The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings. I realized that I didn't see many paintings with black people in them.

I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist; or I'd draw a big ram's head, really messy. I'd never win painting contests. I remember losing to a guy who did a perfect Spiderman.

I want to make paintings that look as if they were made by a child.

I don't see myself as a great discoverer of artists, like Charles Saatchi.

The splendid empire of Charles the Fifth was erected upon the grave of liberty.

I would've done anything to work with Satyajit Ray.