Portrait Of Derrick Adams, El Santo Oficio 2017

Kehinde Wiley made this painting, *Portrait Of Derrick Adams, El Santo Oficio*, and it's a trip how he remixes old master painting techniques with a modern sensibility. There's something about the way Wiley uses color – those deep, moody tones – that pull you in, right? It's not just about depicting something; it's about feeling it. Look closely at Derrick Adams' hand, how Wiley renders it with such care, almost like a sculpture. You can practically feel the weight and texture of the skin. The way he contrasts that with the smoother, more blended background creates this tension that's really compelling. It reminds me of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, how she also plays with historical portraiture but brings her own contemporary twist to it. It's like they're both having a conversation with the past, but in their own unique languages. Art, after all, isn't about answers, it's about asking questions.