Portrait Of Yinka Shonibare, Reynard The Fox 2017

Kehinde Wiley captured Yinka Shonibare in oil paint, giving us this intense and thought-provoking image. I can only imagine Wiley, brush in hand, building up layers of color to render Shonibare’s likeness with such precision and depth. Look at how Shonibare reclines in the chair, surrounded by the sleeping foxes. I wonder what Wiley was thinking, what he was trying to say about Shonibare and his work. The foxes themselves are an interesting touch – are they symbols of cunning, or perhaps vulnerability? The textures in this piece are amazing. See the smooth surfaces of the black material of the suit, juxtaposed against the fur of the foxes and, those incredible patterned sneakers. It is all very painterly and somehow alive. It makes me think about other portrait painters who use realism to reveal something deeper about their subjects. Wiley is definitely in conversation with them, pushing the boundaries of what a portrait can be. It all reminds me that painting is this ongoing dialogue, with artists constantly riffing off one another. It’s full of surprises, and always leaves room for our own interpretations.