The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia 2009

Kehinde Wiley painted The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia using oil on canvas. It’s this conversation between flesh and flowers that grabs you, right? The skin tones of the figure are so rich, pulled from the earth, browns and umbers, laid on with a painterly touch that’s both classic and contemporary. The way the light catches the muscles, it’s like Wiley is saying, “Hey, I see you, and I’m putting you in the canon.” And then, bam! The explosion of floral patterns in the background. It’s like a gorgeous wallpaper threw up all over the place. Look closely at how the darks and lights define the figure's form. The gesture is so relaxed, yet there is something unsettling there in the details of the subjects face and wrists. It’s as though Wiley is asking us to consider what it means to be seen, to be vulnerable, and to be powerful, all at once. Think of contemporaries like Jordan Casteel, using color and composition to bring a new view of modern life to the art world. We’re all just trying to figure it out as we go, right?