Kehinde Wiley's Equestrian Portrait of King Phillip II

In the Equestrian Portrait of King Phillip II made by Kehinde Wiley, the painting presents the well renowned Michael Jackson as a royal king. He is pictured riding a white horse in King Phillip’s attire, with two angels placing a reef over his head. What I found interesting about the painting was the horse’s color and the two angels, with the horse having white skin with black hooves, and one angel being white and other black. I concluded that the picture was representing his status as a huge celebrity while dealing with his skin condition. Yet, what stands out to me about this painting is how Michael Jackson went through his battles dealing with his skin condition, while still able to be recognized as a King of many, through his power of music. –Tyrone Jones

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• AALCI 2022

Kehinde Wiley's Portrait of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew

Mr. Wiley portrays this black, bald, blonde-haired woman standing with sass as a colorful depiction of flowers and greenery surrounds and encompasses her. Something particularly notable for me about the painting, besides the fact that she is bald, is her facial piercings. She has one in her nose, as well as one below her lip. After closely examining the portrait, I noticed that in addition to the blonde baldness, and facial piercings, the woman was not what would be typically described as skinny. Instead, she is full figured, painted in nothing more than a sheer bodysuit, fishnets, and jewelry. The painting stood out to me compared to some of Wiley’s other work because of this very reason. This portrait shows a black woman in minimum clothing compared to his other portraits of black women in long dresses. In this painting, I believe Wiley is challenging our view on what we consider to be feminine about black women. –Yaqkeha Witherspoon

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• AALCI 2022

Kehinde Wiley's Judith and Holofernes

Judith and Holofernes is an oil painting by Kehinde Wiley that I have nicknamed the “Beheading of Becky.” The painting displays a black woman holding the head of a white woman surrounded by a dark but floral background. When gazing at this painting I instantly feel a range of emotions. The first is humor but right after is awe. I am in awe of how Wiley captured the gracefulness and femininity of this black woman through her stance and adornments while in the same breath highlighting her strength. When studying the picture closely I noticed how the position of her feet falls directly on flowers further emphasizing her delicacy. This picture stood out the most to me because black women often do not get the luxury of being viewed as both strong & feminine, yet Wiley presents just how possible it is.  --Nicole Dixon

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• AALCI 2022

Kehinde Wiley's Juliette Récamier

This is the painting Juliette Récamier by Kehinde Wiley. It is of a woman sitting in a formal dress on a couch surrounded by flowers and leaves. Notably about the painting though the woman is on a couch, she does not seem to be resting because she is sitting in a formal dress and her posture is very stiff. Something that I noticed after studying the painting for a while was that the woman’s eye makeup seems to resemble that of an Egyptian queen’s, giving an aura of power. I noticed that the painting stood out to me compared to the other works because it resembled a Manet painting it was based on that had a white figure but also had a black figure originally in a subservient position in the painting as well. -Elizabeth Gowans

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• AALCI 2022

Kehinde Wiley’s Conspicuous Fraud Series #1 (Eminence)

Kehinde Wiley’s Conspicuous Fraud Series #1 (Eminence) depicts a middle aged African American male contrasted by a somewhat muggy teal background. The man is dressed in a full suit and his hair is long; sprouting from his head as if he were a tree and his curls were its offspring. When studying the painting it is hard to tell if his long locks are meant to be a sign of pride or shame for the man. On one hand they look like clouds which could symbolize his feelings of freedom and peace; while another viewpoint might characterize the hair’s movement as something reminiscent of smoke or shadows which might allude to a more negative association. Regardless, this piece stands out for Wiley’s willingness to use something as simplistic as hair to challenge the audience’s personal bias and initial reactions to the content. – Terrie Briggs 

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• AALCI 2022

Kehinde Wiley's Support the Rural Population and Serve 500 Million Peasants

Support the Rural Population and Serve 500 Million Peasants by Kehinde Wiley. The painting features a young African American male holding an old medical bag on the background of Chinese Lotus floral pattern. Something notable about the painting is the medical bag, in combination with the wearing of the durag. After studying the painting for a while, I noticed that he seems stopped in mid stride as if what looks ahead has gathered his attention. This painting stands out to me compared to Wiley’s other works because it welcomes this Black man into a culture, and a professional space, that typically would not make room for him. With the young man’s facial expression, he is able to demand his space there and make it known that no one is above the help that he can provide. -- Chaunece  Reed 

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• AALCI 2022

More photos from our time with D. A. Y. Tyme

 A more photos from the time D. A. Y. Tyme met with AALCI.