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Arena for Contemporary African, African-American and Caribbean Art

Torey Thornton

TTBargedGator2014

Torey Thornton (Macon, Georgia, 1990)

Barged Gator, 2014.

 

 

 

 

Quote:

I told someone recently that De Kooning was my favorite painter. I think I believe that, but then I start to think about other [artists]. I thought about how funny it is to say that Basquiat is your favorite painter, because he has become such a huge figure and trend beyond the art world. [To say] “Oh Basquiat is my favorite painter!” sounds like you almost don’t know anything… [Laughs]

TTDual(y) Noted 2014

Dual(y) Noted, 2014.

TTHell A Reflection2014

A Reflection, 2014.

I would just say the Abstract Expressionists as a whole, or the lead figures of that movement even if they don’t want to be categorized as such. I think a lot about Outsider Art and Folk Art, such as William Hawkins. I wouldn’t call it honest, but their painting is a lot of times so immediate. They just put it down to the surface and keep it moving.

TTShh Come Inside It's so warm2014

Shh Come Inside, It’s so Warm, 2014.

TTStopNecking at the Table Caged2013

Stop Necking at the Table Caged, 2013.

I think about that a lot. Sometimes you want to unlearn what you know. Sometimes you wish you didn’t know so much because you wouldn’t criticize yourself so much and you would just make the painting.(quote from interview with Alexandre Stipanovich | October 25, 2013)

See also: http://www.frieze.com/issue/review/torey-thornton/