What is art?

The Oxford Dictionary defines art as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”

Art is personal and powerful. Art stirs emotion and sparks connection. Art can inspire you to reflect or serve as a call for change. And art reminds us of the remarkable depth, creativity and brilliance of the human mind. To explore this further, we turned to some of the legendary artists and creatives, past and present, for their insights about making art, experiencing art and exploring creativity.

“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.”

Claude Monet

“I believe that the arts are the soul of our society. I believe they give us a window into our collective humanity.”

Viola Davis

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Edgar Degas

“There are three responses to a piece of design—yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.” 

Milton Glaser

“An artist is somebody who produces things that people don’t need to have but that he—for some reason—thinks it would be a good idea to give them.” 

Andy Warhol

“There’s no such thing as a cautious creative.” 

George Lois

“The arts are not a way to make a living—they are a very human way of making life more bearable.”

Robin Williams

“The silhouette says a lot with very little information, but that’s also what the stereotype does.”

Kara Walker

“The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?”

Pablo Picasso

“Creativity is an act of defiance.”

Twyla Tharp

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

Banksy

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.”

Albert Einstein

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

Maya Angelou

Here’s to the many ways art colors our world and to the people who create it,

Gia Miller & Justin Negard