Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History releases its annual theme for Black History Month. This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. African Americans’ impact has been monumental in the performing arts, visual arts, literature, fashion, film, music etc.
I was disappointed recently when I mentioned Kehinde Wiley to a diverse audience at my Opening Reception for my exhibit, “Full Circle.”
Despite Wiley’s prestigious painting of President Obama and celebrities, he doesn’t seem to be well known beyond Black audiences. Of course most people interested in the arts are familiar with his work but what about the general population?
Kehinde Wiley
Meeting Kehinde Wiley at Miami Art Basel in 2009, where he exhibited his equestrian portrait of Michael Jackson, offered a unique connection to his artistry. The influence of Peter Paul Rubens, a renowned Flemish baroque painter, adds depth to the rich tapestry of Wiley’s work, blending classical inspiration with contemporary subjects.
It’s intriguing to note that Kehinde Wiley didn’t always paint celebrities. In a surprising turn, when Michael Jackson contacted him, Wiley initially thought it was a joke.
Kehinde Wiley’s approach of “street casting,” randomly selecting individuals and portraying them in regal attire, is a fascinating aspect of his artistic process. By reinterpreting Western Classical paintings with African Americans in theatrical poses, he not only challenges traditional representations but also empowers diverse subjects to occupy spaces of historical significance and power in art.
According to Wiley, “What I chose to do is to take people who look like me - black and brown people from all over the world, increasingly - allow them to occupy that field of power.”
Indeed, Kehinde Wiley’s selection by President Obama in 2018 for his official presidential portrait at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery marked a historic moment. Together with Amy Sherald, who painted Mrs. Obama, they became the first African Americans entrusted with the task of creating presidential portraits, contributing to a significant chapter in American art history.