Barry McGee

I have tons of art books. I have them all over the place. They are in my car, in my bag, and in my studio. There are books around me all the time. ”

My artwork gets stolen all the time; it's ridiculous. ”

It's very intense to go back to the past and revive work that I've already experienced and moved forward from. It's like seeing an old girlfriend - awkward at times, nostalgic at times and downright maddening and embarrassing. ”

As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more easily. I find I work in my sketchbooks more. But if I'm working on a new show, my reading completely stops except when I'm on a plane. I take a stack of New Yorkers with me. I feel awful about those stacks of New Yorkers. ”