Glenn Ligon (b. 1960, Bronx, New York) is a celebrated American conceptual artist whose multidisciplinary practice explores themes of race, language, history, and identity. Best known for his text-based paintings, Ligon often appropriates phrases from writers such as James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, and Richard Pryor, stenciling them onto canvas in layers that gradually blur and obscure the words. His work draws on sources from literature, visual culture, and personal experience to examine the complexities of Black identity and the ongoing legacy of American history. Ligon’s art spans painting, neon, printmaking, and installation, and he is recognized for his powerful engagement with social and political issues. He has exhibited widely at major institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Tate Modern, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, and his works are held in prominent collections around the world. Ligon lives and works in New York City.