Malcolm Study 2009

Kehinde Wiley made 'Malcolm Study' with paint, and the way he lays down colors feels like a conversation, a back-and-forth between what's real and what's imagined. The jacket, for example, it's got this sheen, almost wet-looking, which is so different from the flat, patterned background. The background is like wallpaper, ornamental. The figure comes forward, yet it feels like a set. Check out how the floral design sneaks onto his jacket—it’s like the painting is blurring the lines between him and this decorative world. It’s all so surface-y, and in a way, that's part of the point. Wiley's like a magpie, grabbing bits from here and there. Maybe you'll see hints of Warhol's pop sensibilities in the way he approaches portraiture. Ultimately, this painting’s about layers and seeing how we construct identity. There is no final word here.