“Painting is about the world we live in. Black men live in that world. I choose to include them.“
- Name: Kehinde Wiley
- Born: February 28, 1977
- From: Los Angeles, California
- Pronouns: N/A
- Contribution/Impact: He, like so many other contemporary artists are changing the dynamic and mindset surrounding black men. With his artwork he has also worked to change what masculinity looks like.
- Interesting Facts: He created the 2018 painting of Barack Obama sitting in a chair surrounded by leaves and flowers.
- Known For: Website.
- Occupation: Artist/Portrait Painter
- Awards: He is known for his naturalistic paintings of African Americans.
Wiley grew up in the hood, and states that his love of artwork and the dynamic shots are inspired from the chaos in his environment. He later received a scholarship to art school and used the infamous paintings of white men and the reverence surrounding them to inspire his later work. In addition to his work, he also travels the world, taking pictures of black and brown people for his collection known as; The World Stage.
Handout
To download the Handout:
- Click on the image
- Right-click and select Save Image As…
- Decorate and personalize the empty space in the image.
- Cut out and use for a selfie to share on our social media page.
- Download a card and envelope template and write about an idea this leader inspires.
- Check out The Attic for more resources and events for Philadelphia’s LGBT+ youth!
This ASI Special event is an ongoing volunteer-led project made by people like you, using multiple educational sources regularly being revised and updated. We would love your assistance if you or your group would like to get involved, learn more here.