Glen Liggon Installation & Ellsworth Kelly's "Spectrum IV" in Lobby of MoMA

American painter, sculptor & printmaker, Ellsworth Kelly (b. 1923) died this past December.  An extraordinary artists of multi-mediums, his quintessential oil painting "Spectrum IV" (1967) is hanging in the lobby in all its resplendent colors and significant social message.  The painting, 9' x 9', consists of 13 rainbow colored panels of equal proportion.  It is a kaleidoscope of radiating colors.  It resonates the rainbow colored banners associated with gay pride.  The painting is being hung in tribute & commemoration of one of our great artists of the 20thC.  Also, in the lobby is a recent acquisition (2015) by Glenn Ligon (b. Amer 1960) "Figure 2001."  Ligon is a conceptual artist whose works examine issues of race, history & identity; often times incorporating text in his works.  "Figure 2001" is a series of 50 self-portrait, silk-screens.  All 50 are of the same size 9" x 6" but all are on varying colored paper in muted jewel shades of blue, amber and amber.  The prints are hung in equally spaced rows & columns.  The profiles are unique in their positioning & intensity of definition.  Some of the portraits are frontal views, back of the head or at various angles.  And, while all the busts are in black, the intensity of each print is unique.  Ligon engages the viewer to acknowledge or confront the individual; being dismissive of an individual or race is not an option.  Stepping back from both artists' work presents a pleasing, colorful aesthetic and their juxtaposition is arresting & potent.