Marcel Dzama Quotes

Powerful Marcel Dzama for Daily Growth

About Marcel Dzama

Marcel Dzama (born May 15, 1974) is a Canadian artist renowned for his intricate, surreal, and often whimsical drawings that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dzama grew up in a creative environment, influenced by his mother's love for art and his father's interest in music. He studied at the University of Manitoba School of Art before moving to New York City in 1997 to further his artistic career. Dzama's work is characterized by its dreamlike quality, incorporating elements of folklore, mythology, and childhood memories. His drawings often feature recurring characters such as foxes, bears, and owls, set against backdrops of fantastical landscapes or surreal urban environments. These themes can be traced back to his upbringing in the Canadian wilderness and his fascination with fairy tales and comic books. In 2001, Dzama gained international recognition when he was included in the prestigious Whitney Biennial in New York City. Since then, he has had numerous solo exhibitions worldwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal. Dzama's major works include "The Adventures of the Black Square" (2004), a series of drawings and animations that tell the story of an enigmatic black square; "Moon-Face" (2010), a large-scale installation at the New Museum in New York City; and "Marcel Dzama: Songs of the Open Road" (2018), a retrospective exhibition at The Drawing Center in New York City. Today, Marcel Dzama continues to create captivating works that challenge our perception of reality and invite us into his unique imaginary world. His art is held in various public collections worldwide, including the Tate Modern, London, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm drawing these pictures for myself because I can't find them in any books."

Marcel Dzama, in this quote, expresses a sense of personal creativity and longing for imagery that doesn't exist within the confines of conventional books or mainstream art. He suggests that he creates his artwork as a means of fulfilling a desire for originality and imaginative exploration that isn't catered to by existing resources. Essentially, Dzama is saying that he draws pictures because he needs to, as they resonate with his unique vision and artistic sensibilities.


"The best way to make a monster is to take away its eyes."

This quote implies that removing an essential part, like one's ability to see or understand (their "eyes"), from something or someone can transform them into a monster – a distorted, fearsome version of their former self. It suggests that taking away empathy, compassion, or understanding can create monstrous behavior in individuals or societies.


"Art is a way of thinking, not a way of making."

Marcel Dzama's quote "Art is a way of thinking, not a way of making" suggests that the process of artistic creation goes beyond the physical act of creating. It emphasizes that art is deeply rooted in one's thought processes and cognitive abilities, such as imagination, perception, and creativity. In other words, artists don't just produce art; they think in unique and innovative ways, and it is this way of thinking that defines their artistic output. This quote encourages us to approach art not just as a product but as a thought-provoking process that shapes our understanding and interpretation of the world around us.


"Everyone has secrets and fears, the trick is how you deal with them."

This quote by Marcel Dzama suggests that everyone carries their personal burdens - secrets, fears, or insecurities - as an inherent part of being human. The wisdom lies in understanding these internal struggles and finding healthy ways to cope with them rather than letting them control our actions and emotions. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and emotional resilience in navigating life effectively and maintaining meaningful relationships with others.


"I like my work to have that sense of mystery or unease, so I can never quite tell what it's going to be about when I start."

Marcel Dzama's quote suggests a creative approach where the outcome remains unpredictable, fostering an atmosphere of intrigue and discomfort during the creation process. By not defining the final product beforehand, he leaves room for the work to evolve organically and potentially challenge both himself and his audience in unexpected ways. This method encourages open-ended exploration and invites viewers to project their own interpretations onto the artwork, thus adding layers of meaning.


I'm always interested in seeing how other artists work. I want to know what their working patterns are. I even like to know if they listen to music when they draw or what time of day they draw, even materials they use, what they research, if they use photographs.

- Marcel Dzama

Listen, Other, Use, Materials

I love the Prado in Madrid. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is also great.

- Marcel Dzama

Love, Boston, I Love, Madrid

I use dull colors in my drawings because I started out using a root beer base, because it seemed like an interesting idea, and when it turned out that it worked quite well as an ink, I started using other colors that would complement it, like grays from Higgins black writing ink and, more recently, Dr. P.H. Martin's olive green and vermilion.

- Marcel Dzama

Other, Use, Turned, Complement

I feel that, for each show I've been doing, there's a character that dominates. Then in the next show it plays a smaller part, and then in the next it has a sort of cameo piece. So they all have their moment.

- Marcel Dzama

Doing, Next, Been, Cameo

The process of the body changing and making a whole human fascinates me.

- Marcel Dzama

Me, Process, Making, Fascinates

I try not to censor myself at all.

- Marcel Dzama

Myself, Try, Censor

When I was a school kid, I used to read lots of comics. This started me on drawing. I would make my own comics about my teddy bear, whose name happened to be Ted.

- Marcel Dzama

Kid, My Own, Read, Teddy

Every now and then, I like to take a break from the visual arts and play a few songs on guitar. I don't play them for anyone.

- Marcel Dzama

Play, Like, Break, Now And Then

Any given day, you'll find me at secondhand bookstores.

- Marcel Dzama

Me, Find, Given, Bookstores

Everyone was saying computers were going to be the future of art; everyone had to do something in this medium. And it was almost some sort of rebellion that I wanted to do these small, intimate drawings.

- Marcel Dzama

Art, Small, Some, Medium

I've always remembered 'Where the Wild Things Are' so clearly, which isn't the case with most other children's books. 'Wild Things' was a favorite from the start.

- Marcel Dzama

Always, Other, Which, Wild

I only learned about Darger a couple years ago, when I kept seeing his name in reference to my artwork, so I looked him up. I wouldn't consider him an influence because I'd already established my current style before learning about him, but I enjoy his work a lot.

- Marcel Dzama

Before, Couple, About, Reference

I don't go digital. I was never good with technology. I didn't have a cellphone until I moved to New York. My gallery was like, 'What? How are we supposed to contact you?'

- Marcel Dzama

Digital, New, Like, Gallery

I find that I'm constantly drawing. Even when I'm on holidays or when the baby's sleeping, I'll just start doing some automatic drawing, something like that, and then it will turn into a piece, even though I thought I was just doodling.

- Marcel Dzama

Thought, Doing, Some, Sleeping

I make art primarily for myself and to show my friends, so I guess it's important to make art that they can connect to.

- Marcel Dzama

Art, Myself, Show, Connect

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