Passing;Posing #3 2005

Kehinde Wiley's 2005 painting "Passing;Posing #3" is a striking example of his signature style. Wiley's contemporary paintings draw heavily on the tradition of Western portraiture. He portrays young black men in the pose and style of European Old Masters like Van Dyck and Titian, challenging the historical exclusion of black subjects from this genre. The gold background with floral patterns and the figure's clothing (a white tank top, jeans, and a silver chain) juxtapose traditional portraiture with contemporary urban style, making this a work of art that is both historically conscious and visually striking.