Ralph Lemon

(b. 1952)

Best known for his work in dance and performance, Ralph Lemon’s practice also extends to film, video, photography, and installation. Inspired by a generation of postmodern and conceptually-minded choreographers, such as Merce Cunningham and Meredith Monk, Lemon’s work emerged just as art museums increasingly endeavored to incorporate such practices into their curatorial programs. His art often uses movement to explore themes of loss, intergenerational memory, and histories of anti-Black violence in the US. Lemon’s practice involves collective creation among members of the now-disbanded Ralph Lemon Dance Company, as well as with artists like Kevin Beasley and scholars like Saidiya Hartman. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama in 2016.