Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley was born in 1977 in Los Angeles, California, and currently lives and works in New York. His oil paintings, encased in glittering, baroque frames, express the artist's interest in a range of styles linked to the past, such as French Rococo and Baroque, combined in a unique way with contemporary street style. The protagonists of his works are young men of color whom he encounters on the streets, portrayed in poses of power reminiscent of 17th-century portraiture. "I am inspired a bit by photography, a bit by art, and a bit by life," he states, aiming to aestheticize masculine beauty by incorporating backgrounds drawn from historical paintings into which he inserts his contemporary figures. The faces of Black men, who have long been overlooked in the history of art, replace the white characters of the original works, boldly and clearly claiming their rights with provocative expressions and attitudes.

In the work Passing/Posing (the entry into Paris of dauphin, the future Charles V), created in 2004, one can perceive the pride with which the young African American poses, wielding a sword in place of the French King Charles V. The corolla of lilies that surrounds and overlaps with the figure is utilized by Wiley as a heraldic representation of the royal lily, further emphasizing the portrayal of the contemporary young man, whose virile and proud expression symbolizes the strength with which he presents himself to the modern world.