Portrait Of Sophia Camy 2014

Kehinde Wiley painted this ‘Portrait of Sophia Camy’ with oil on canvas using a hyperreal style mixed with art nouveau patterns. The tension between the figure and background is so interesting, isn’t it? I think what grabs me is how Wiley renders Sophia with such care, using detailed tonal gradations, and then sets her against this almost flattened, decorative backdrop. The material handling is great. Look how the paint is built up, layer upon layer, especially in her face and arms, but then in her shirt, it becomes flatter and smoother, more like a graphic element. And then you get these sinuous vines creeping in and out of the frame, adding another layer of complexity. This reminds me of a more recent Njideka Akunyili Crosby piece, but there are definite influences from earlier portrait painters. Ultimately, this painting shows art’s ability to borrow, remix, and make something totally new, leaving room for endless interpretations.