Fall 2009

"Fall" (2009) by Kehinde Wiley is a portrait of a young man in a casual outfit, rendered in a meticulous, photorealistic style. Wiley’s work often features Black figures, repositioning them within traditional Western painting genres, such as portraiture, as in this piece, and challenging conventions of representation. In this painting, the man stands before a vibrant floral background, evoking an idealized and almost surreal natural setting. The intricate details and bold colors create a striking visual contrast, highlighting the subject's presence and emphasizing the complexities of race and representation in contemporary art.