George, Lord Digby and William, Lord Russell

One of the most recognizable motifs of American painter Kehinde Wiley is his use of lush, ornate textile patterns against the backdrop of his contemporary subjects. Wiley reimagines classical portraits and traditionally white historical figures with his saturated rendering of hyper-realistic people of color. Referencing the Old Masters, such as Peter Paul Rubens, and Jaques- Louis David, Kehinde Wiley successfully dignifies his subjects while also subverting the white narrative that has long overshadowed Western history. After receiving his MFA from Yale in 2001, his work has been exhibited in New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Milan and numerous other cities. One of Wiley’s most notable works is Barack Obama’s presidential portrait, with his painting selling over six figures in the secondary market.