As a former Catholic, and as someone who even today is not opposed to being called a Christian, I felt I had every right to use the symbols of the Church and resented being told not to.

An artist is nothing without his or her obsessions.

I don't think that because I am Hispanic I should therefore do Hispanic work.

I like to believe that rather than destroy icons, I make new ones.

My work is intensely personal.

There's nothing wrong with provocative art work: I even look forward to the day when I can take pictures which will disturb even me.

I have always felt that my work is religious, not sacrilegious. I would say that there are many individuals in the Church who appreciate it and who do not have a problem with it. The best place for Piss Christ is in a church.