Passing;Posing Annunciation 2005

Kehinde Wiley painted Passing; Posing Annunciation at some point in his career, using a realistic approach to the figures, set against a decorative background. It's like he’s saying, let’s make something new out of something old. The background, a flat plane of red, is taken over by these curling green vines. Then he’s got these two cool figures in the foreground, all done in a really tight, realist style. Look at the brushwork - it’s so smooth, it’s almost like you can’t see it. He’s not hiding anything, but he’s also not letting you see how he did it. It is really skilled, but in a way that doesn’t shout, more like a whisper. It reminds me of Chris Ofili, who also takes on historical painting but brings something totally fresh. Ultimately, art isn’t about answers, right? It’s about asking questions, keeping the conversation going.