W. Graham Robertson 2013

"W. Graham Robertson" is a 2013 painting by Kehinde Wiley, known for his contemporary portraits that reinterpret traditional Western art through a modern lens. This painting features a young Black man standing against a backdrop of blooming trees and birds, a motif that recalls classical portraiture, but Wiley's subject is distinctly contemporary, clad in streetwear and a jacket emblazoned with the acronym "YMCMB". This juxtaposition of traditional and modern elements highlights Wiley's exploration of identity and representation within the context of contemporary Black American culture.