Detail of Passing/ Posing (Female Prophet Anne...) by Kehinde Wiley in the Brooklyn Museum, March 2010

Passing/Posing (Female Prophet Anne, Who Observes the Presentation of Jesus on the Temple)

Kehinde Wiley presents large-scale portraits of young black men as saints and angels, in poses inspired by paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In creating these monumental paintings, Wiley borrows poses, imagery, and titles from works by master painters such as Tiepolo (1727–1804). Dressed in their everyday clothes, the figures float over flat, brightly colored backgrounds suggestive of infinite space. By placing these "new" subjects within the context of art history, Wiley challenges the prevailing representations of black men in contemporary American society.


Artist: Kehinde Wiley, American, born 1977

Medium: Oil on canvas mounted on panel

Dates: 2003

Dimensions: 96 x 60 x 1 1/2 in. (243.8 x 152.4 x 3.8 cm)

Collections: Contemporary Art

Museum Location: This item is on view in Contemporary Art Galleries, 4th Floor

Accession Number: 2003.90.2

Credit Line: Mary Smith Dorward Fund and Healy Purchase Fund B

Rights Statement: © artist or artist's estate

Text from: www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/166783/Pass...