W. Graham Robertson 2013

Kehinde Wiley made "W. Graham Robertson" as part of his ongoing project of portraying contemporary black men in the style of traditional portraiture. What strikes me is the contrast between the flat decorative backdrop and the highly rendered figure. It’s like two different worlds colliding on one canvas. Look at the way Wiley uses color – the vivid blues and yellows of the jacket pop against the dark, almost wallpaper-like background. The textures, too, are fascinating. The smooth, almost photographic realism of the figure contrasts with the patterned surface of the foliage. Notice how the leaves and branches wrap around the figure. It’s as if the figure and the environment are in conversation, each informing the other. Wiley reminds me of artists like David Hockney, who also played with flatness and depth, representation and decoration. These artists invite us to question our assumptions about seeing and representation. Art doesn’t have to give us easy answers, it can be a space for exploration and ambiguity.