James Rosenquist

Scientists say, 'There is no such thing as time; gravity is a dust from another universe, and outside our own universe are many, many universes in all directions.' They speculate that attached to these universes are probably 6,000 planets identical to Earth. So are there things living out there? Animals, people, anything?

Many young artists, they look at the art world and think they can make a lot of money.

I hate getting old, but I'm sticking with it!

I used to know Madison Avenue advertisers. I didn't like 'em. Bunch of jerks.

The best thing about being an artist is the free clothing and getting to kiss pretty girls.

I hitchhiked to Miami in 1953, and there were oranges laying on the road, black shantytowns, and marinas with nice boats. The museums were virtually empty.

I don't do anecdotes. I accumulate experiences.

Popular culture isn't a freeze-frame; it is images zapping by in rapid-fire succession, which is why collage is such an effective way of representing contemporary life. The blur between images creates a kind of motion in the mind.

I feel lucky that I've been able to make a living from painting any idea that comes into my head.

I'm interested in contemporary vision - the flicker of chrome, reflections, rapid associations, quick flashes of light. Bing! Bang!

I think of my actions every day: what seems to be important and what isn't.

I decided to make pictures of fragments, images that would spill off the canvas instead of recede into it like a medicine cabinet. I wanted to find images that were in a 'nether-nether-land': things that were a little out of style but hadn't reached the point of nostalgia.