Contents
Kehinde Wiley
The portrait painter who places Black subjects inside the visual language of traditional power.
Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps · Barack Obama
- Born
- 28 February 1977
- Birthplace
- United States
More people
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley adapts poses and formats associated with European historical portraiture. Rich decorative backgrounds frame contemporary people who were often absent from that tradition.
Early life
Los Angeles
Grew up in Southern California and attended art classes as a child.
Art schools
Studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and Yale.
Career
- 2001
Harlem residency
Worked at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
- 2000s
Portrait series
Developed paintings based on encounters with contemporary sitters.
- 2018
Presidential portrait
His portrait of Barack Obama was unveiled.
Selected work
Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps
Recasts a canonical equestrian image.
Barack Obama
The official National Portrait Gallery commission.
Rumors of War
A monumental equestrian sculpture in Richmond.
Beyond work
Residency programme
Founded Black Rock Senegal to support artists in Dakar.
International practice
Has worked with sitters in countries across several continents.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Career and work — kehindewiley.com ↗Photo: U.S. Department of State. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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