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Kehinde Wiley — Easter Realness #1
Kehinde Wiley

Easter Realness #1

A regal Black figure is rendered in Wiley's signature style, draped in vibrant, richly patterned fabric against an ornate floral background that merges historical portrait conventions with contemporary Black identity. The monumental composition draws from the visual language of Old Master paintings, elevating the subject with the same grandeur traditionally reserved for European aristocracy and religious iconography. The elaborate gilded frame echoes the opulence of the image within, reinforcing Wiley's reclamation of power, beauty, and visibility for those historically excluded from such reverent representation.

Medium
oil on canvas, artist's gilded frame

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Art Day Sale

May 15, 2015

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About this work

Kehinde Wiley, Easter Realness #1

A regal Black figure is rendered in Wiley's signature style, draped in vibrant, richly patterned fabric against an ornate floral background that merges historical portrait conventions with contemporary Black identity. The monumental composition draws from the visual language of Old Master paintings, elevating the subject with the same grandeur traditionally reserved for European aristocracy and religious iconography. The elaborate gilded frame echoes the opulence of the image within, reinforcing Wiley's reclamation of power, beauty, and visibility for those historically excluded from such reverent representation.

Medium
oil on canvas, artist's gilded frame
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Figurative Painting, Contemporary Painter, Gilded Frame, Ornate Background, Male Artist, Black Male Subject, Empowering Mood, Celebrated Artist, Portraiture, Contemporary Artist, Celebratory Mood, American Artist, Black Subjects, LGBTQ+ Themes, 21st Century, Neo-Baroque, Portrait, African American Artist, Vibrant Colors, Oil on Canvas

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