Solo show
Glenn Ligon: Double America
4 Jul 2026 — 11 Oct 2026 at Neue Nationalgalerie
· Berlin
Glenn Ligon (born 1960)
Double America, 2012
Neon tubes and paint
91 x 305 cm
The work "Double America" (2012) consists of two rows: in the upper row, every letter of the word "AMERICA" is turned to face the wall, so that only the backs of the neon tubes are visible. The second row, by contrast, presents an exact mirror image of the correctly spelled and fully illuminated word. The tension between concealment and revelation — between what is shown and what is withheld — lies at the heart of Ligon's ongoing inquiry into race, language, and the promises and failures of American identity.
Double America, 2012
Neon tubes and paint
91 x 305 cm
The work "Double America" (2012) consists of two rows: in the upper row, every letter of the word "AMERICA" is turned to face the wall, so that only the backs of the neon tubes are visible. The second row, by contrast, presents an exact mirror image of the correctly spelled and fully illuminated word. The tension between concealment and revelation — between what is shown and what is withheld — lies at the heart of Ligon's ongoing inquiry into race, language, and the promises and failures of American identity.
About the artist
Glenn Ligon
1960 · conceptual art
Glenn Ligon is an American conceptual artist whose work explores race, language, desire, sexuality, and identity. Based in New York City, Ligon's work often draws on 20th century literature and speech of 20th century cultural figures such as James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Gertrude Stein, Jean…
About the artist →About the venue
Neue Nationalgalerie
· Berlin
The Neue Nationalgalerie at the Kulturforum is a museum for modern art in Berlin, with its main focus on the 20th century. It is part of the National Gallery of the Berlin State Museums. The museum building and its sculpture gardens were designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and opened on 15…
