Listen to Odili Donald Odita’s Songs from Life

Songs from Life, Odili Donald Odita’s floor-to-ceiling commission in MoMA’s lobby, is anchored by a selection of far-ranging musical influences, from Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson to Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads, Bill Withers, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and many more. This commission marks the first time music has served as the artist’s primary influence, and each painted section is titled after an ensemble of songs included in the playlist above.

“There’s a sort of energy that is communal because of the way music can affect the body,” Odita has said. “That’s how I want to make my paintings work, too.” This collection of songs expands upon the artist’s idea of MoMA’s main lobby as a gathering space for people from different walks of life confronting life’s challenges and finding redemption.

Visitors are encouraged to listen to the artist’s playlist while they experience the space and immerse themselves in the cascading kaleidoscope of colors that surrounds them.

Odili Donald Odita: Songs from Life is on view at MoMA April 8, 2025–April 2026.