Julian Schnabel (b. 1951)

‘When I use a skull, it’s not because it exists in Bellini or El Greco, but because it makes a certain emotional sense when it’s painted in a certain work. That means it has a certain relation to life, expresses a certain attitude or outlook. I think of my paintings as effecting an attitude which makes life livable for someone else. I don’t think life is too livable in general — too human. I want my painting to make something humanly possible — something that will show you the face of fear yet let you survive. I want it to show you whatever keeps you from being free and thereby makes you free’ – Julian Schnabel