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Ming Smith in the MoMA

Last March, I was in New York for a week visiting a friend. Among the touristy things I did while I was there was a trip to the Museum of Modern Art, where I encountered the work of an artist I've come to really like. Her name is Ming Smith.

The first work of hers I saw was on the second floor of the MoMA, I've since forgotten which gallery. It was titled "Andrew Young and Vernon Jordan on Television, New York, NY", and I remember standing still for a few minutes taking it in. To me it was very striking due to the depth of contrast, and how the darkness of the room seems to swallow the light coming off the Lamp. Also, the way the faces on the television contrast to the dark backdrop. I'm not sure of the context of the two men on the television screen - Looking them up after, I found out that they were both civil rights activists.

Andrew Young and Vernon Jordan on Television, New York, NY | MoMA

After poking through the rest of the extensive galleries, I returned to the first floor, where, it turned out, there was a gallery of just Smith's artwork. I don't think I've ever had an experience at a museum where I greatly enjoyed a particular piece, then stumbled into a room filled to the brim with pieces by the same artist, in the same style. Like it a lot.

Ming Smith's MoMA Gallery

I've been on the lookout for prints. Funnily, and maybe it's an intentional middle finger, her website has what looks like a link to information about prints, but it's literally just HTML underlined text. Intentional or no, bravo.