Glenn Ligon

Glenn Ligon, born in 1960 in the Bronx, New York, is a prominent American conceptual artist whose work delves into themes of race, language, sexuality, and identity. Educated at Wesleyan University and the Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Program, Ligon emerged in the late 1980s with his signature text-based paintings. These works often feature stenciled phrases from influential Black writers and thinkers, such as James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston, repeated to the point of abstraction. This technique challenges viewers to engage deeply with the content, reflecting on the complexities of visibility and legibility in societal narratives. 

Ligon’s art spans various media, including neon installations, prints, and drawings, all unified by a critical examination of American history and culture. Notable works like “Untitled (I Am a Man)” reinterpret historical protest imagery to comment on contemporary issues of identity and representation. His 2011 mid-career retrospective, “Glenn Ligon: AMERICA,” at the Whitney Museum of American Art, showcased the breadth of his exploration into these themes.  Through his innovative use of language and form, Ligon invites audiences to confront and reconsider the narratives that shape our understanding of race and identity in America