Kehinde Wiley Exhibition I attended the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to observe Kehinde Wiley’s show. Kehinde Wileys art exhibition the “A New Republic” was an outstanding collection where he recreated paintings in the 21st century emphasizing race, gender and the political stance of representation. He wanted to create a space for African Americans in history. In the exhibit included “The Economy of Grace” series from his earlier works featuring men and women with detailed backgrounds, stained glass and bust sculpture. His project was the first time he had dedicated to African American women. Each piece was inspired and was in retrospect to paintings done by Jacques-Louis David, John Singer, and many more. One of my favorite pieces from the gallery was “The Two Sisters” done with oil on linen.
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Hendricks. I felt a sense of a close bond that was powerful and their clothing softly draped on them revealing a more delicate side of African American women. In Hendricks painting the woman were dressed in casual wear while in Kehinde’s painting there were dressed in gowns. He depicted black women in an elegant, confident and proud way and I appreciated that because often times we are perceived in a negative light whether it’s regarding our pigment or how we carry ourselves. What was most interesting to me is that in “The Economy of Grace” collection the body language stood out and normally the surroundings of a highly decorative and detail background with flowers, scenery, or prints would jump off the page, but not in this case. The clothing the women had on in the painting where off white dresses and some wore black. In each image there were different body gestures such as standing proudly and sitting gracefully. Their hair was in an elegant updo. His detailing in the clothing and how he was able to blend the skin tone so well was
Hendricks. I felt a sense of a close bond that was powerful and their clothing softly draped on them revealing a more delicate side of African American women. In Hendricks painting the woman were dressed in casual wear while in Kehinde’s painting there were dressed in gowns. He depicted black women in an elegant, confident and proud way and I appreciated that because often times we are perceived in a negative light whether it’s regarding our pigment or how we carry ourselves. What was most interesting to me is that in “The Economy of Grace” collection the body language stood out and normally the surroundings of a highly decorative and detail background with flowers, scenery, or prints would jump off the page, but not in this case. The clothing the women had on in the painting where off white dresses and some wore black. In each image there were different body gestures such as standing proudly and sitting gracefully. Their hair was in an elegant updo. His detailing in the clothing and how he was able to blend the skin tone so well was