Everything I do is inspired by my early life”, Bourgeois’ looked up to her mother who was the most important person in her life for many reasons, ‘Maman’ symbolizes her mother; “The friend, because my best friend was my mother and she was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, reasonable, dainty, subtle, indispensable, neat, and as useful as a spider.

I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole.

For me, sculpture is the body. My body is my sculpture.

The spider is an animal who eats mosquitoes. That's why I love the spider - it is the only way we have to deal with these insects.

I like Francis Bacon best, because Francis Bacon has terrific problems, and he knows that he is not going to solve them, but he knows also that he can escape from day to day and stay alive, and he does that because his work gives him a kick.

I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you, it was wonderful.

I was a runaway girl from France who married an American and moved to New York City. Im not sure I would have continued as an artist had I remained in Paris because of the family setup.