Treisha Lowe 2012

Kehinde Wiley made Treisha Lowe without stating when, or how, but just imagine those blooming roses emerging, shifting and swirling on the canvas – it's all a bit trial, a bit error, and a whole lotta intuition, don't you think? I can just imagine Wiley, brush in hand, thinking about art history and how to put a new spin on a classic pose. The thick floral wallpaper kinda swallows the figure, but the deep blue of her dress pops. It’s like, what does it mean to be seen, and who gets to be the subject of such a grand portrait? Look at the way the roses curve around her dress, and the little vines wrapping around, reaching out to the viewer. Wiley’s doing more than just painting a picture, he’s having a conversation with other artists, bouncing ideas around like we’re all in one big studio, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways. Painting at its best!