Joao Caetano 2009

Kehinde Wiley’s 2009 painting "Joao Caetano" depicts a young Black man in a casual pose against a vibrant floral backdrop. Wiley’s work reimagines historical portraiture, drawing inspiration from European masters while incorporating contemporary urban figures. This hyperrealist style, rendered in oil on canvas, is characteristic of Wiley's work, which elevates Black figures to the status of iconic subjects and challenges traditional representations of race and identity.