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
I really love to make sweeping historical gestures that are like little illustrations of novels. Kara Walker gesturehistoricalillustration Change image and share on social
There was a manifesto in the late '60s/early '70s, and it basically laid out what 'black art' was and that it should embrace black history and black culture. There were all these rules - I was shocked, when I found it in a book, that it even existed, that it would demarcate these artists. Kara Walker 60s70sart share on social
There is something very strange and unsettling for me about making a work that doesn't fit with what's the norm or what's acceptable. There's something both liberating about it and challenging. I can imagine it doing more harm than good. Kara Walker acceptablechallengefit share on social
Challenging and highlighting abusive power dynamics in our culture is my goal; replicating them is not. Kara Walker abusivechallengeculture Change image and share on social
I am performing this role of the artist and this role of the 'negress' coming into a white-box institution. It's kind of a self-appointed role: the self-designated negress. Kara Walker appointartistbox Change image and share on social
I don't think that my work is very moralistic - at least, I try to avoid that. I grew up with that sermonising tendency, and I don't think visual work operates like that. Kara Walker avoidgrowmoralistic Change image and share on social
I know that in my family there are histories of violence that are internal family things and that are oftentimes dealt with internally. By internally, I mean inside the family group, but also partly inside ourselves. You know, self-hatred and hostility and rage and this cycle that won't break. Kara Walker breakcycledeal share on social