Phillip II 2008

Kehinde Wiley made this portrait, Phillip II, using oil paint to riff on historical portraiture. The juxtaposition of the young Black man in a hoodie with a vibrant backdrop of dragons and stylized motifs creates a captivating tension. I’m drawn to how Wiley's process seems to involve both meticulous rendering and playful invention. Look closely at the way the light catches the subject's face, how he builds the form with delicate gradients and subtle shifts in tone. Then, step back and notice the bold, graphic quality of the background patterns. It’s this contrast that makes the painting so compelling. The details on the hoodie, like those swirling cloud-like shapes, feel like they're both part of the fabric and somehow floating on top of it. Wiley's work reminds me a bit of Chris Ofili, in that he infuses classical forms with contemporary subject matter. It’s a fascinating conversation between past and present, inviting us to reconsider what portraiture can be.