Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

53 Insightful Quotes By Jenny Holzer, The Famous American Neo-Conceptual Artist

Famous As: Artist, Painter, Sculptor
Born On: July 29, 1950
Born In: Gallipolis
Age: 72 Years
Jenny Holzer is a neo-conceptual artist from the U.S. A large portion of her work is feminist in nature and as such, she is regarded as a member of the feminist branch of artists which rose to prominence in 1980. Holzer had always aspired to be an artist and in fact wanted to go into abstract art. She studied art at Duke University, before studying painting at the University of Chicago and eventually at Ohio University, from where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Holzer’s earliest work as an artist was in the field of public art and languages. Her career as an artist really took off after she became a resident of Manhattan in 1976 and the following year she started her most famous series of works titled ‘Truisms’. ‘The Truisms’ series contin-ued till 1979 and in 1981, she started another of her noted art series titled ‘Living’, that added on to her laurels. As a street artist it doesn’t come as a surprise that she is filled to the brim with great lines. Jenny Holzer's works, writings and interviews have highlighted many important issues and she has also expressed her thoughts on various issues through these mediums. Her finest quotes have been collected from her works, interviews etc. Here are some of her best quotes that express her thoughts and feelings on various issues which will surely strike a chord with you.
SPIT ALL OVER SOMEONE WITH A MOUTHFUL OF MILK IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR PERSONALITY FAST.

SPIT ALL OVER SOMEONE WITH A MOUTHFUL OF MILK IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR PERSONALITY FAST.

Jenny Holzer
If you behaved nicely, the communists wouldn't exist.

If you behaved nicely, the communists wouldn't exist.

Jenny Holzer
In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy.

In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy.

Jenny Holzer
Boredom makes you do crazy things.

Boredom makes you do crazy things.

Jenny Holzer
You are a victim of the rules you live by.

You are a victim of the rules you live by.

Jenny Holzer
Turn soft and lovely anytime you have the chance.

Turn soft and lovely anytime you have the chance.

Jenny Holzer
You confuse me with something that is in you. I will not predict how you want to use me.

You confuse me with something that is in you. I will not predict how you want to use me.

Jenny Holzer
Going with the flow is soothing but risky.

Going with the flow is soothing but risky.

Jenny Holzer
Protect me from what I want.

Protect me from what I want.

Jenny Holzer
Alienation produces eccentrics or revolutionary.

Alienation produces eccentrics or revolutionary.

Jenny Holzer
Expressing anger is necessary.

Expressing anger is necessary.

Jenny Holzer
A positive attitude means all the difference in the world.

A positive attitude means all the difference in the world.

Jenny Holzer
Savor kindness because cruelty is always possible later.

Savor kindness because cruelty is always possible later.

Jenny Holzer
Being happy is more important than anything else.

Being happy is more important than anything else.

Jenny Holzer
At times inactivity is preferable to mindless functioning.

At times inactivity is preferable to mindless functioning.

Jenny Holzer
A sense of timing is the mark of a genius.

A sense of timing is the mark of a genius.

Jenny Holzer
Raise boys and girls the same way.

Raise boys and girls the same way.

Jenny Holzer
Knowing yourself lets you understand others.

Knowing yourself lets you understand others.

Jenny Holzer
Expiring for love is beautiful but stupid.

Expiring for love is beautiful but stupid.

Jenny Holzer
SOME DAYS YOU WAKE AND
IMMEDIATELY START TO WORRY.
NOTHING IN PARTICULAR IS WRONG,
IT¹S JUST THE SUSPICION THAT
FORCES ARE ALIGNING QUIETLY
AND THERE WILL BE TROUBLE.

SOME DAYS YOU WAKE AND IMMEDIATELY START TO WORRY. NOTHING IN PARTICULAR IS WRONG, IT¹S JUST THE SUSPICION THAT FORCES ARE ALIGNING QUIETLY AND THERE WILL BE TROUBLE.

Jenny Holzer
Fear is the greatest incapacitator.

Fear is the greatest incapacitator.

Jenny Holzer
Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.

Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.

Jenny Holzer
A lot of professionals are crackpots.

A lot of professionals are crackpots.

Jenny Holzer
With all the holes in you already there's no reason to define the outside environment as alien.

With all the holes in you already there's no reason to define the outside environment as alien.

Jenny Holzer
Deviants are sacrificed to increase group solidarity.

Deviants are sacrificed to increase group solidarity.

Jenny Holzer
How do you resign yourself to something that will never be? You stop wanting just that thing. You go numb. Or you kill the agent of desire.

How do you resign yourself to something that will never be? You stop wanting just that thing. You go numb. Or you kill the agent of desire.

Jenny Holzer
I try to excite myself so I stay crazy.

I try to excite myself so I stay crazy.

Jenny Holzer
WHAT A SHOCK WHEN THEY TELL YOU
IT WON'T HURT AND YOU ALMOST 
TURN INSIDE OUT WHEN THEY BEGIN.

WHAT A SHOCK WHEN THEY TELL YOU IT WON'T HURT AND YOU ALMOST TURN INSIDE OUT WHEN THEY BEGIN.

Jenny Holzer
Enjoy yourself because you can't change anything anyway.

Enjoy yourself because you can't change anything anyway.

Jenny Holzer
THERE IS A PERIOD WHEN IT IS CLEAR
THAT YOU HAVE GONE WRONG
BUT YOU CONTINUE.
SOMETIMES THERE IS A 
LUXURIOUS AMOUNT OF TIME 
BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS.

THERE IS A PERIOD WHEN IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE GONE WRONG BUT YOU CONTINUE. SOMETIMES THERE IS A LUXURIOUS AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS.

Jenny Holzer
Go where people sleep and see if they are safe

Go where people sleep and see if they are safe

Jenny Holzer
She has no taste left to her and this makes it easier for me.
The color of her where she is inside is enough to make me kill her.

She has no taste left to her and this makes it easier for me. The color of her where she is inside is enough to make me kill her.

Jenny Holzer
It is in your self-interest to find a way to be very tender.

It is in your self-interest to find a way to be very tender.

Jenny Holzer
Hands on your breast can keep your heart beating.

Hands on your breast can keep your heart beating.

Jenny Holzer
Ideals are replaced by conventional goals at a certain age.

Ideals are replaced by conventional goals at a certain age.

Jenny Holzer
YOU SHOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES
YOU ACT AGAINST YOUR NATURE,
LIKE SLEEPING WITH PEOPLE YOU HATE.
IT¹S INTERESTING TO TEST YOUR CAPABILITIES FOR A WHILE
BUT TOO MUCH WILL CAUSE DAMAGE.

YOU SHOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU ACT AGAINST YOUR NATURE, LIKE SLEEPING WITH PEOPLE YOU HATE. IT¹S INTERESTING TO TEST YOUR CAPABILITIES FOR A WHILE BUT TOO MUCH WILL CAUSE DAMAGE.

Jenny Holzer
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND IT DOES ME
NO GOOD AT ALL

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND IT DOES ME NO GOOD AT ALL

Jenny Holzer
IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY FEELING
WHEN PART OF YOUR BODY ARE
TOUCHED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I'M THINKING OF THE SENSATIONS
FROM SEX AND SURGERY.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY FEELING WHEN PART OF YOUR BODY ARE TOUCHED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I'M THINKING OF THE SENSATIONS FROM SEX AND SURGERY.

Jenny Holzer
An elite is inevitable.

An elite is inevitable.

Jenny Holzer
With you inside me comes the knowledge of my death.

With you inside me comes the knowledge of my death.

Jenny Holzer
IT CAN BE STARTLING TO
SEE SOMEONE¹S BREATH,
LET ALONE THE BREATHING OF A CROWD.
YOU USUALLY DON¹T BELIEVE THAT
PEOPLE EXTEND THAT FAR.

IT CAN BE STARTLING TO SEE SOMEONE¹S BREATH, LET ALONE THE BREATHING OF A CROWD. YOU USUALLY DON¹T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE EXTEND THAT FAR.

Jenny Holzer
Someone else's body is a place for your mind to go.

Someone else's body is a place for your mind to go.

Jenny Holzer
Faithfulness is a social not a biological law.

Faithfulness is a social not a biological law.

Jenny Holzer
MORE THAN ONCE I'VE AWAKENED WITH
TEARS RUNNING DOWN MY CHEEKS.
I HAVE HAD TO THINK WHETHER
I WAS CRYING OR WHETHER IT
IS INVOLUNTARY, LIKE DROOLING.

MORE THAN ONCE I'VE AWAKENED WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN MY CHEEKS. I HAVE HAD TO THINK WHETHER I WAS CRYING OR WHETHER IT IS INVOLUNTARY, LIKE DROOLING.

Jenny Holzer
THE FOND OLD COUPLE WAS
DISAPPEARING TOGETHER THROUGH
SUCCESSIVE AMPUTATIONS.

THE FOND OLD COUPLE WAS DISAPPEARING TOGETHER THROUGH SUCCESSIVE AMPUTATIONS.

Jenny Holzer
HOW CONCISE THAT YOU CAN CRY FROM
AWFUL WOUNDS, DESERTION, HAPPINESS,
MEMORIES, HUMILIATION,
DISAPPOINTMENT OR GRANDEUR.

HOW CONCISE THAT YOU CAN CRY FROM AWFUL WOUNDS, DESERTION, HAPPINESS, MEMORIES, HUMILIATION, DISAPPOINTMENT OR GRANDEUR.

Jenny Holzer
IT'S NO FUN WATCHING PEOPLE WOUND
THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY CAN HOLE UP,
NURSE THEMSELVES BACK TO HEALTH,
AND REPEAT THE CYCLE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

IT'S NO FUN WATCHING PEOPLE WOUND THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY CAN HOLE UP, NURSE THEMSELVES BACK TO HEALTH, AND REPEAT THE CYCLE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

Jenny Holzer
WITH BLEEDING INSIDE THE HEAD
THERE IS A METALLIC TASTE AT
THE BACK OF THE THROAT.

WITH BLEEDING INSIDE THE HEAD THERE IS A METALLIC TASTE AT THE BACK OF THE THROAT.

Jenny Holzer
THE IMPULSE IS TO SQUEEZE AND
FONDLE BABY WILD ANIMALS
BUT THEN THEY'D BE BROKEN AND
WHAT GOOD WOULD THEY BE?

THE IMPULSE IS TO SQUEEZE AND FONDLE BABY WILD ANIMALS BUT THEN THEY'D BE BROKEN AND WHAT GOOD WOULD THEY BE?

Jenny Holzer
IF THE HOUSE IS BITTER COLD,
ALL THE FLUIDS THEREIN,
IF NOT FROZEN, ARE STIFF AND SLOW.

IF THE HOUSE IS BITTER COLD, ALL THE FLUIDS THEREIN, IF NOT FROZEN, ARE STIFF AND SLOW.

Jenny Holzer
IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO THINK OF
THEM EATING YOUR FAVORITE FOODS
AND OCCASIONALLY THROWING UP
AND GETTING BITS STUCK
IN THEIR NOSES.

IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO THINK OF THEM EATING YOUR FAVORITE FOODS AND OCCASIONALLY THROWING UP AND GETTING BITS STUCK IN THEIR NOSES.

Jenny Holzer
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING SOMETHING NEW,
YOU'RE TORN BETWEEN
ANTICIPATING A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE
AND THINKING YOU'RE A FOOL TO
IGNORE WHAT YOU KNOW YOU LIKE.

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING SOMETHING NEW, YOU'RE TORN BETWEEN ANTICIPATING A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE AND THINKING YOU'RE A FOOL TO IGNORE WHAT YOU KNOW YOU LIKE.

Jenny Holzer
HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT POSITION
TO LIE DOWN WITH PEOPLE
OR EVEN ANIMALS?
OFTEN ONE OF THE PARTNERS IS
SMOTHERED OR CONTORTED.
WHEN DONE PROPERLY, THOUGH,
EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT POSITION TO LIE DOWN WITH PEOPLE OR EVEN ANIMALS? OFTEN ONE OF THE PARTNERS IS SMOTHERED OR CONTORTED. WHEN DONE PROPERLY, THOUGH, EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

Jenny Holzer