Portrait Of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew by Kehinde Wiley

Portrait Of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew 2013

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pop art-esque

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pattern-and-decoration

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facial expression reference

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figurative

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portrait of cartoonist

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uncanny

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pop art

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animal portrait

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pop art-influence

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likeness

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facial portrait

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portrait art

Copyright: Modern Artists: Artvee

Curator: Kehinde Wiley created this striking work, "Portrait of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew," in 2013. It’s a fascinating update to traditional portraiture, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely! My initial reaction? This is confidence personified! The pose, the gaze... everything screams, "I dare you." And that vibrant floral background – it’s both beautiful and somehow confrontational. It clashes perfectly, you know? Curator: Wiley's portraits are all about disrupting our expectations, reclaiming the grand tradition for people who have been historically excluded from those spaces. The floral patterns, reminiscent of William Morris, symbolize the opulence and grandeur traditionally associated with the aristocracy. Editor: And there's an undeniable sense of empowerment in how he places contemporary figures – like Mary Hill, in this instance - against those classic symbols. The tattoos visible beneath her fishnets…It's like he’s building a bridge between different eras. The fishnets combined with the floral, gives an uncanny blend of textures as well. Curator: Exactly. Consider the weight of Lady Killigrew's own story; as the notorious pirate's wife of the Elizabethan era, that position speaks volumes within a society built upon control. Here, Wiley takes that narrative and places the same strength within Hill. It speaks of continuity, doesn’t it? Of inherited power, reimagined and owned by an heir. Editor: Yes! I am also seeing beauty, and almost, tenderness in how Wiley renders skin; those curves, with that confident posture, juxtaposed against such a feminine and intricate backdrop is mesmerizing. This image has a narrative of owning your power, but still displaying the beauty, and power of femininity. It challenges you in such a raw way, even upon initial look. It creates an entire story in the viewers mind about a person that otherwise, we would be strangers too. Curator: It’s precisely that invitation to imagine, that makes Wiley’s work so potent. He's not just painting a picture; he’s igniting a conversation. And that’s what keeps cultural memory alive. Editor: Definitely gives you something to think about, beyond just the pretty colors and the flowers. I feel like there’s a whole ocean under the surface that’s waiting to be explored!

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