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Quote by Kehinde Wiley

“The backgrounds by design are a very key part of the conversation, because I want a kind of fight or pressure to exist between the figure and the background.”

Quote by Kehinde Wiley

Author

Kehinde Wiley is a renowned contemporary painter known for his modern interpretations of traditional portraiture. His works typically depict portraits of African Americans, Latinos, and other minorities, blending elements of history, culture, and pop culture. Born in 1977, Wiley's work has had a profound impact on the art world. more

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“Unlike the background in many of the paintings that I was inspired by or paintings that I borrowed poses from - the great European paintings of the past - the background in my work does not play a passive role.”

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“On the contrary, my desire is that the viewer sees the background coming forward in the lower portion of the canvas, fighting for space, demanding presence.”

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“Almost as though the painting itself becomes the embodiment of a type of struggle for visibility, and this might be considered the main subject of the painting.”

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“I have been painting white people for much longer in my life than I have done for colored people.”

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Author:Kehinde Wiley

“I studied shades, textures by painting after the Old Masters, the classical European paintings, as part of my educational process.”

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Author:Kehinde Wiley

“I have been painting models with black and brown skin only for the past years. So, I did already have this experience, this is how I have come to the paintings I do now.”

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Author:Kehinde Wiley

“In some way they are all self-portraits, but I think I know what you mean by asking this - I would say, it is too idealistic to paint yourself.”

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Author:Kehinde Wiley

“My mother's from Texas. Small town outside of Waco called Downsville. And my father's from Nigeria. And so I guess I'm properly African-American.”

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Author:Kehinde Wiley

“[My parents] met in university back in the '70s. And I didn't grow up with my father. He - they separated before I was born.”

Father Grows Parent Born Growing Up Mets University

Author:Kehinde Wiley

“At age 20 I went to go find my father in Nigeria. And after much toil, I finally figured out exactly where he was. And there's something about seeing your father for the first time - my mother destroyed all pictures of him.”

Firsts Age Mother Father Seeing First Time Destroyed Toil Nigeria

Author:Kehinde Wiley