Saint Denis 2012

Kehinde Wiley's "Saint Denis" (2012) is a striking contemporary portrait that reimagines traditional religious iconography. The work features a young Black man, dressed in modern streetwear, standing against a vibrant floral background. Wiley's use of a photorealistic style and the subject's pose, with hands clasped in prayer, evoke the conventions of Renaissance portraiture, while the contemporary setting and the subject's attire highlight the artist's interest in exploring themes of identity and representation in Black culture.