BK

Barbara Kruger

126quotes

Barbara Kruger


Full Name and Common Aliases


Barbara Kruger is an American artist known for her work in photography, film, and installation art.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on January 26, 1945, in Newark, New Jersey.

Nationality and Profession(s)


American artist, photographer, filmmaker, and educator. She has been a prominent figure in the fields of conceptual art, postmodernism, and feminist art.

Early Life and Background


Kruger grew up in a family that valued education. Her mother was a teacher, and her father worked as an engineer. This upbringing instilled in Kruger a strong work ethic and encouraged her to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1965 and later attended the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at Oxford University on a Fulbright scholarship.

Major Accomplishments


Kruger's early career spanned various mediums, including photography, film, and installation art. Her breakthrough came with her photographic works that critiqued consumer culture and the representation of women in advertising. Notable among these is her series "Untitled (Your Body Is a Battleground)," which was first exhibited at the 1989 Venice Biennale.

Notable Works or Actions


Kruger's artwork often employs bold text overlays on photographs, challenging viewers to question their perceptions of power, identity, and consumerism. Her use of appropriation and subversion of advertising imagery has been particularly influential in contemporary art. Some notable works include:

"Untitled (Your Body Is a Battleground)" (1989)
 "I Shop Therefore I Am" (1987)
* "Untitled (We Don't Need Another Hero)" (1987)

Impact and Legacy


Kruger's work has had a significant impact on the art world, influencing generations of artists who followed in her footsteps. Her critiques of consumer culture and patriarchal society have resonated with audiences worldwide.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Kruger is widely quoted and remembered for her thought-provoking artwork that continues to resonate with contemporary issues. Her work serves as a reminder of the power of art to challenge societal norms and spark critical thinking.

Her quotes often appear in publications, exhibitions, and educational contexts, inspiring others to engage with her ideas and values.

Quotes by Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger's insights on:

There's a moment of recognition. It's that white-light kind of stuff that just 'works.' I love that. And you know it when it happens, whether it's a movie, music, a building, a book.
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There's a moment of recognition. It's that white-light kind of stuff that just 'works.' I love that. And you know it when it happens, whether it's a movie, music, a building, a book.
BK
I like suggesting that 'we are slaves to the objects around us,' that 'plenty should be enough,' or that the 'buyer should beware,' within the context of conventional selling space.
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I like suggesting that 'we are slaves to the objects around us,' that 'plenty should be enough,' or that the 'buyer should beware,' within the context of conventional selling space.
BK
If most American cities are about the consumption of culture, Los Angeles and New York are about the production of culture – not only national culture but global culture.
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If most American cities are about the consumption of culture, Los Angeles and New York are about the production of culture – not only national culture but global culture.
BK
There’s a moment of recognition. It’s that white-light kind of stuff that just “works.” I love that. And you know it when it happens, whether it’s a movie, music, a building, a book.
"
There’s a moment of recognition. It’s that white-light kind of stuff that just “works.” I love that. And you know it when it happens, whether it’s a movie, music, a building, a book.
BK
I just say I’m an artist who works with pictures and words.
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I just say I’m an artist who works with pictures and words.
BK
What makes the production of my work so expensive? The whole installation thing – the construction, the objects, the technology. It really adds up.
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What makes the production of my work so expensive? The whole installation thing – the construction, the objects, the technology. It really adds up.
BK
Do you know why language manifests itself the way it does in my work? It’s because I understand short attention spans.
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Do you know why language manifests itself the way it does in my work? It’s because I understand short attention spans.
BK
I think people have to set up little battles. They have to demonize people whom they disagree with or feel threatened by. But it’s the ideological framing of the debate that scares me.
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I think people have to set up little battles. They have to demonize people whom they disagree with or feel threatened by. But it’s the ideological framing of the debate that scares me.
BK
But I really resist categories – that naming is a closing down of meaning. Women’s art, political art – those categorisations perpetuate a certain kind of marginality which I’m resistant to. But I absolutely define myself as a feminist.
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But I really resist categories – that naming is a closing down of meaning. Women’s art, political art – those categorisations perpetuate a certain kind of marginality which I’m resistant to. But I absolutely define myself as a feminist.
BK
I think that every so-called history book and film biography should be prefaced by the statement that what follows is the author’s rendition of events and circumstances.
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I think that every so-called history book and film biography should be prefaced by the statement that what follows is the author’s rendition of events and circumstances.
BK
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