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Peter Schjeldahl

52quotes

Peter Schjeldahl: A Life of Artistic Curiosity and Passion


Full Name and Common Aliases


Peter Schjeldahl was an American art critic and journalist, best known for his insightful and engaging writings on contemporary art.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on July 20, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Peter Schjeldahl passed away on September 21, 2022, at the age of 71.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Schjeldahl was an American critic, journalist, and professor by profession. He was a prominent voice in the art world, known for his expertise on contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in Minneapolis, Schjeldahl developed a keen interest in the arts from an early age. He was exposed to various forms of creative expression through his family's influence, with his mother being an artist and his father a writer. This early exposure sparked his curiosity about art, music, and literature. Schjeldahl attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied philosophy.

Major Accomplishments


Throughout his career, Schjeldahl was recognized for his contributions to the world of art criticism. He served as a prominent critic at The New Yorker from 1998 to 2012 and continued writing for various publications, including Village Voice, Artforum, and The Paris Review. His insightful reviews and essays on contemporary art helped shape public discourse about the creative arts.

Notable Works or Actions


Schjeldahl's work as a critic was characterized by his ability to balance intellectual rigor with lyrical prose. He wrote extensively on artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Cy Twombly, among others. In addition to his writing, Schjeldahl was also an accomplished editor, serving as the art editor at The New Yorker during a pivotal period in the magazine's history.

Impact and Legacy


Schjeldahl's influence on contemporary art criticism cannot be overstated. His writings not only helped shape public opinion about the arts but also provided a platform for underrepresented voices within the art world. Through his work, he demonstrated that art criticism could be both intellectually stimulating and accessible to a broader audience.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Peter Schjeldahl is widely quoted and remembered due to his unique ability to distill complex artistic ideas into engaging and thought-provoking narratives. His writing style, which blended intellectual curiosity with lyrical prose, has influenced generations of art critics and writers. As a critic, he played an important role in shaping the conversation about contemporary art, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to inspire artists, critics, and enthusiasts alike.

By exploring Schjeldahl's life and work, we gain insight into his unwavering passion for the arts and his commitment to making complex ideas accessible to all. His influence extends far beyond his writing, as he helped pave the way for diverse voices within the art world and encouraged a broader public engagement with contemporary art.

Quotes by Peter Schjeldahl

A lot of writers and artists are like chefs who eat their own cooking in the kitchen and then deliver an empty plate with assurances that it’s great.
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A lot of writers and artists are like chefs who eat their own cooking in the kitchen and then deliver an empty plate with assurances that it’s great.
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There’s art that I would readily buy if I could afford it, and enjoy, but would never write about because it doesn’t seem significant.
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There’s art that I would readily buy if I could afford it, and enjoy, but would never write about because it doesn’t seem significant.
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Beauty makes us more like ourselves and more like each other.
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Beauty makes us more like ourselves and more like each other.
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I have a total responsibility to the reader. The reader has to trust me and never feel betrayed.
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I have a total responsibility to the reader. The reader has to trust me and never feel betrayed.
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Everybody’s got plants, but most are just growing weeds. The cultivated have greater gardens, finer and gaudier gardens.
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Everybody’s got plants, but most are just growing weeds. The cultivated have greater gardens, finer and gaudier gardens.
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There is an ineffable but fatal difference in attitude between people behaving naturally and people behaving naturally for a camera.
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There is an ineffable but fatal difference in attitude between people behaving naturally and people behaving naturally for a camera.
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I’m absolutely convinced that people cannot look and read at the same time. Not any more than you can kneel and jump at the same time. It’s a completely different physiological setting.
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I’m absolutely convinced that people cannot look and read at the same time. Not any more than you can kneel and jump at the same time. It’s a completely different physiological setting.
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It’s my duty to sell the ideas. But there’s always a question when it comes to beauty.
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It’s my duty to sell the ideas. But there’s always a question when it comes to beauty.
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Your medium has to be alive to you, no matter what you do.
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Your medium has to be alive to you, no matter what you do.
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I find that the mask of the critic is to have distance.
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I find that the mask of the critic is to have distance.
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