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Kehinde Wiley Art

American, b. 1977

Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of 2018, American painter Kehinde Wiley (b. 1977) is one of the most widely recognized artists of his generation, best known for re-creating Old Masters works with contemporary Black subjects.

Take, for instance, his large-scale masterpiece Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps (2005): The painting is nearly identical in both composition and name to Jacques-Louis David’s Bonaparte Crossing the Alps (1800–1), but instead of the French general posed atop a rearing horse, it’s a modern-day Black man, dressed in fatigues and Timberland boots, against a decorative patterned backdrop. Through such paintings and sculptures, Wiley engages in a political act, acknowledging the omission of Black and other nonwhite figures from historical and cultural narratives — especially as seen through the lens of European portraiture — and introducing them as heroes in poses and positions of power.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Wiley discovered his talents as a photorealistic portrait painter as a child, refining them at the San Francisco Art Institute, where he earned his BFA, and at the Yale University School of Art, where he earned his MFA. His art draws from a range of influences; while his paintings are most associated with Old Master portraits, particularly in the Venitian tradition of Titian and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Wiley often sets his subjects in front of ornate patterned backgrounds that reference African textiles and Islamic architecture. In 2017, the artist was commissioned by President Barack Obama to paint his official portrait to hang in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Wiley has garnered numerous accolades, including the U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts, the Brooklyn Museum Asher B. Durand Award for Artistic Achievement, the American Federation for Arts Cultural Leadership Award and the Pratt Legend Award. His works can be found in the collections of acclaimed institutions around the world, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the Zabludowicz Collection in London.

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Artist: Kehinde Wiley
Barack Obama White House portrait print
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in New York, NY
Kehinde Wiley Portrait of Barack Obama Color offset lithograph Based upon the original painting the artist did of President Obama, the official presidential portrait in the permanent...
Category

2010s Realist Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Kehinde Wiley 'Sharrod Hosten Study III' Signed Archival Pigment Print 2020
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in Miami, FL
Kehinde Wiley's 'Sharrod Hosten Study III, 2020' is part of a limited edition print of only 30 copies. This piece was printed using archival ink on paper, signed and dated 'Kehinde W...
Category

2010s Contemporary Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

LARGE Andries Stilte oversized beach towel (limited edition sold out) 70" x 60"
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in New York, NY
Kehinde Wiley Andries Stilte oversized beach towel, 2008 Silkscreen on 100% Cotton Large Beach Towel or hanging tapestry 70 × 60 inches (folded measurements included). Edition of 200...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Cotton, Mixed Media, Screen

The World Stage: Israel (Hand Signed by Kehinde Wiley)
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in New York, NY
Kehinde Wiley The World Stage: Israel (Hand Signed by Kehinde Wiley), 2012 Illustrated hardback monograph with dust jacket. Hand Signed by Kehinde Wiley Boldly signed in black marker...
Category

2010s Realist Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Permanent Marker, Lithograph, Offset

Nine of Coins
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Kehinde Wiley Nine of Coins, 2010 Archival inkjet print Framed Dimensions: 20.19 x 16.25 x 1 inches (51.27 x 41.27 x 2.54 cm) Edition AP 2/3, apart from the edition of 7
Category

2010s Contemporary Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Inkjet

Alios Itzhak (Hand Signed by Kehinde Wiley) Skateboard Skate Deck Jewish Museum
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in New York, NY
Kehinde Wiley Alios Itzhak (The Worldstage: Israel), Hand Signed, 2011 100% Canadian maplewood skate deck. Hand signed by Kehinde Wiley 31 3/4 × 8 inches Boldly signed (by hand) in black marker by Kehinde Wiley on the image This long sold out skateboard, based upon Kehinde Wiley's painting, Alios Itzhak, was signed in black marker by the artist at The Jewish Museum on the occasion of his major exhibition "The World Stage: Israel", featuring portraits focusing on contemporary youth from Jewish-Ethiopian-Israeli...
Category

2010s Contemporary Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Wood, Screen, Permanent Marker, Mixed Media

Kehinde Wiley 'Dimietrus Study' 2021
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in Miami, FL
Kehinde Wiley’s 'Dimietrus Study' is a 2021 archival ink print in the artist's original frame. This piece is signed and dated 'Kendinde Wiley 2021' Ed. 17/30. -- Kehinde Wiley’s Dimietrus Study (2021) features a portrait of a young, Black New Yorker amidst a wreath of pink and blue flora that Wiley originally created in 2008. Returning to the composition, Wiley explains, “This portrait continues a theme that exists within the selection of prints...
Category

2010s Contemporary Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Pigment

Kehinde Wiley 'Sophie Arnould Study II' Print, 2016
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in Miami, FL
Kehinde Wiley's 'Sophie Arnould Study II' is part of a 2016 limited edition print of only 30 copies. The prints in this edition are enhanced by the artist’s hand application of silve...
Category

2010s Contemporary Kehinde Wiley Art

Materials

Pigment

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Kehinde Wiley art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Kehinde Wiley art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Kehinde Wiley in screen print, lithograph, offset print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Kehinde Wiley art, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Annie Leibovitz, Mark Jenkins, and Howard Kanovitz. Kehinde Wiley art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $850 and tops out at $45,000, while the average work can sell for $9,000.

Artists Similar to Kehinde Wiley

Questions About Kehinde Wiley Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Kehinde Wiley is an African American painter known for realistic portraits of people in heroic defeat or triumph. His photo-realistic paintings use a range of references from classical paintings to pop culture. He is best known for his paintings, but he has delved into bronze sculpture as well. Shop a selection of Kehinde Wiley pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Kehinde Wiley's most famous portrait is arguably of Barack Obama. In 2018, the American artist received a commission to paint the 44th President of the United States. Wiley’s depiction shows Obama surrounded by what are intentionally several types of flowers. The flowers represent Kenya, his father's birthplace; Hawaii, the president's own birthplace; and Chicago, where Obama lived and worked. Other well-known works by Wiley include Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps, Judith and Holofernes, A New Republic and Femme Piquée Par Un Serpent. Explore a variety of Kehinde Wiley art on 1stDibs.

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