Research Paper on Kehinde Wiley: Early Exposure to Art Shapes Successful African-American Writer

Introduction

Kehinde Wiley is a successful African-American writer famous for his pragmatic influence on portraiture. He was born in 1977 in the city of Los Angeles, California. Wiley's love for art started at an early age and studied art from the age of eleven. His mother noted his prowess in art and enrolled him in an art school at an early age. Besides, he attended school in Russia. Later, he continued to pursue his education in the United States. The earlier exposure of the young artist enabled him to meet other artists and have the perspective of other artists. Wiley works demonstrate the changing pattern of a painting depicting a vibrant, historical, and political representation of ordinary people. Based in New York, the artist is known for his naturalistic depiction of black people in the world. The artists have revolutionized painting by incorporating the issues facing young African-Americans in contemporary culture. Kehinde Wiley painting stand out by including naturalistic, realistic, and brightly colored paintings of African-American as a means of depicting power.

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Identity and Themes

The major themes covered in Wiley's painting reveals the various aspects of his identity, including race, gender, and sexuality. African-American remain the apex of focus in the artist's work. The depiction of black communities through his work makes them the primary subjects and also the audience of his work. Wiley painting emerges at an opportune time when the young African-Americans are facing discrimination and have been vilified by the media. Besides, they have been victims of the police brutality in many streets in America. Wiley's painting reveals about the field of power by portraying the African-Americans as powerful and also inspire the audiences to assume their potential (Buffington 16). The leading themes in Wiley's work indicate his intentions of depicting African-American strength by concentrating on their representation in society. Most of his work demonstrates the paradigm shift from the traditional old master portraits. Hence, the focus of the piece represents the contemporary issue facing discriminated communities.

Moreover, the artist work bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary styles. In this aspect, he tries to fuse the styles and influences depicted in the work of the old masters. Wiley borrows from artistic styles like the French Rococo, the Islamic art and African design and fashion. Besides, he intrudes Martha Stewart ingenuity of interior colors. The size of the portrait also demonstrates the distinction between Wiley's work and those of old mastery (Schur 641). His paintings are depicted in larger than normal portrait designed to heroic representation. As a result, the works elicit connotation of empowerment, pride, and spiritual awakening of the African-American communities. The style is expected to depict the feeling of African-Americans aesthetic in a dignified manner.

Allusion and Imitation

Figure 1 represents one of Wiley's works that demonstrate the effective use of allusion and identify depiction named "Officer of the Hussars" This particular piece appeared for the first time at the Detroit art museum back in 2005. An analysis of the piece reveals that the format borrows from the charging chasseur style employed by the French artist in 1812. The allusion is an artistic style which enables association of the current piece to other influential old masters. In work, Willey differentiates his piece to the Jericho paintings by including fuzzy clothing of a man in hip hop attire instead of the original Horseman in a hat and mustache (Haxall 133). In this case, Wiley can exhume the aesthetics of the Jericho paintings and incorporating contemporary factors in society. In this manner, the reference enhances creativity to promote the celebration of art in emerging cultural changes. Wiley can relate the generational gap by appreciating their culture to modern society.

Depiction of power and masculinity remain one of the central focus in Wiley's paintings. The artist has developed popularity because his monumental pieces reflect these factors in western culture. Figure 2 is the extension of the Rumors of War to show how the people of color have been segregated in American society. The Chancellor Seguier on Horseback (2005) demonstrates the shift from the traditional portraiture of power in society. Wiley reveals his artistic prowess by renegotiating the traditional perception to exhibit the ability of African-Americans. Portraits were used by old masters to demonstrate that demonstrate the power relationship between the nobles and the subjects. Wiley borrows the concept of the social model adopted during the Renaissance period in Europe. Commissioning of portraits was used as a measure of the value of the person since poor people were not able to pay (Carrington 256). Likewise, African American have been depicted as economically deprived in the current society. Therefore, Wiley manages to demonstrate the concept of power relationship perpetuated by race. This piece introduces a depend on the concept of the idea of body completion.

The choice of the Chancellor Seguir on the Horse has another important significance which illustrates imitation of concepts. The original piece intended to celebrate the heroic acts of the French chancellor as a fighter. As a result, Wiley's portrait also aims at promoting the role played by humble African-Americans in the path to equality and civil rights. The recognition reiterates the need to recognize the position of persons of color in America. The intention is to change the perception by encouraging them to view African-Americans with dignity and critical contributors to the changing culture (Carrington 250). The imitation renders Wiley's work a powerful avenue of art development by comparing concepts to address the issue facing contemporary society. The classic framework of portraiture invokes association of portraits with power.

Therefore, Wiley indicates that African-Americans have something worth the attention of others. It also acts as a reminder of the historical physical, psychological, and legal deprivation. The art uplifts the position of African American by placing them on the back of the horse and acting as master. Mot portraits depicted people of color serving white masters. The notion has characterized the racial division, which has rendered the black males, adverse victims. Profiling of the African-American as violent, drug abusers and criminals also reflect the level of social deprivation Wiley's kin (Thompson 497). Therefore, his thinking is influenced by what he observed in his immediate environmental context. Artists should ensure that their works address certain perceptions to ensure that it absolves any influence created by negative perception. In this case, Wiley demonstrates that African-American bodies are not threatening but represent beauty and uniqueness.

Artistic Style

A closer view of the general artistic style adopted by Wiley reveals that he adopts the Baroque style. The artists who use this style do not necessarily mimic what old master introduced. Instead, they use their work as the basis to create, mutate, integrate, and relate pieces that express contemporary society. Besides, Wiley borrows from the ornate floral patterning to integrate the colorful background of his paintings. Figure 3 is the portrait of the former president, Barack Obama commissioned for the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The piece depicts president Obama seated in an informal setting gazing at the audience. The background depicts lily flowers and green as a symbol of unity. The three colors refer to the Kenyan, Chicago, and Hawaii organic of the resident (Miller 116). Besides, president Obama connection to persons of color shows that African-American has power and can serve at any position, including the white house. On one aspect, Wiley indicates that diversity is an essential aspect of human existence and should be a source of pride in society.

Wiley does not restrict himself to the defense of African-American only but also other minorities around the world. The artists travel often and include some of the things he learns in this expedition in his work. So far, most works discussed were influenced by European art. However, figure 4 represents the incorporation of Haitian culture to augment the concept of black power. Two notable aspects of this piece are the evolution of gender and appreciation of flora and fauna of Haiti. The woman poses with beauty and confidence, demonstrating that the people of color have an inherent desire and beauty to face society. The portrait also demonstrates the fashion and design of African-Americans women (Miller 113). Wiley intents to celebrate the culture of Africans by incorporation the numerous aspects of its society. The people of color living in Haiti shares much in common with the African-Americans hence represent a substantial source of comparable culture. This piece also demonstrates that Wiley celebrates the culture of black people.

Sexual Revolution

Willey art demonstrates present substantial additions that reveals the shifting perception of sexual orientation. Figure five is the portrait of Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps (2005). The piece has been adopted from grant Saint-Bernard pass. However, Wiley's work depicts an African American rider in a compact outfit and a bandanna. The rider gestures upward exhibiting a tattoo on his right hand riding conformable in rocky terrain. Wiley's version also includes the name Williams to the inscription Bonaparte, Hannibal, and Korolus Magnus. The background of this image is decorated in a gold baroque pattern while it is framed in a white sperm running around the entire structure. Firstly, Wiley inclusion of a black soldier leading the victory of one of the events acknowledged by whites assigns the power connotation (Murray, and Murray 92). The people of color have been disenfranchised in America and took long before they were accepted to serve in the military. The adoption of rococo art also emerges because Wiley uses contemporary attire to introduce relevancy and applicability. Willey demonstrates that fashion represents an essential aspect of culture and require celebration.

Moreover, the inclusion of sperm as the frame in the background augments the aspect of male sexuality. In this case, Wiley observes that men occupy a higher archaeon in the African-American culture. The sperm represents the masculinity, and the heterosexual concept depicted in historical. In the same note, the idea could be used as a justification for the domination of make over the women in their culture. It also communicates an important aspect of gender role between the medieval period and the contemporary era. The dominance of male characters in the military defines the commonality between the two generations. Wiley incorporates artistic inversions to convey the wealth and pride of African-Americans (Carrington 251). Therefore, replacing the images of powerful portraits with a figure of people with color provide elevates them to positions of dignity in society. It also facilitates communication of important cultural artifacts to the upcoming generations.

History and Background

Wiley work acts as an avenue to explore the history of the origin of the African-American root in America. Figure 6 portrays a portrait by Wiley titled "Ship of Fools (2017). This piece represents a simple image of four young black males riding a boat in a wild sea. There is a single tree with observable green leaves at the center of the boat. The work aims at exploring the subjects of migration, deportation, and displacement. In general, the art provides the contribution of African-American in the eventualities of the United States. For white Americans, the sea is a symbol of f...