I don't know why so many artists talk about the mainstream's problems from the fringe. I think, unfortunately, it's almost like our education makes us too safe and terrified to step into the world. Mark Bradford artisteducationfringe Change image and share on social
The sheer density of advertising creates a psychic mass, an overlay that can sometimes be very tense or aggressive. As a citizen, you have to participate in that every day. You have to walk by until it's changed. Mark Bradford advertiseaggressivechange share on social
The police pull up in back of my car and run my plates - they don't see you as you are; they see you through a racialized negative gaze. I think the best thing is not to internalize it too much, or it'll make you crazy because you know it's going to happen again. Mark Bradford backcarcrazy share on social
I can go to my own opening, and the security guard will tell me that I have to go to the security entrance. Mark Bradford entranceguardopen Change image and share on social
The narrative oftentimes is that everything that comes out of the hood is 'real,' and so I thought, 'I'll base it on the absurd, the not real. I'll twist the idea of real on its head and see if I can get away with it. I'll make paintings that come not from a place but through an abstract gaze.' Mark Bradford abstractabsurdbase share on social
I am fully present wherever I am. Why bother being in a community or neighborhood and not being fully present? I think that's colonization. I'm not interested in that. Mark Bradford bothercolonizationcommunity Change image and share on social
Generally, when I tell people I'm a painter, they ask me if I have a card: 'Yes, we'd like this room in this color.' I still might get cards that say 'Mark Bradford. Painter.' Mark Bradford bradfordcardcolor Change image and share on social
I have always been very intrigued by the outside of buildings. I can just walk down the street and be content with watching facades. I don't have to go inside. Mark Bradford buildingcontentfacade Change image and share on social
I just like artist-driven projects, but for artists themselves: artist spaces, artist mentor programs, and artists buying buildings and making lofts. Doing whatever we can do. Because at the end of the day, I really think that we as a community only have each other. Mark Bradford artistbuildingbuy share on social
In North America, what happens often is that they put race before nationhood. Everyone here is Hispanic-American, Chinese-American, African-American. But really, we're just North Americans of all these different descents. The only time I notice North Americans becoming national is when a war happens or a crisis happens. Mark Bradford africanamericaamerican share on social