Mark Shavers 2010

Kehinde Wiley made this painting of Mark Shavers, using oil on canvas. Look at this dude, painted with such detailed precision against a backdrop of lush, colourful ornamentation. I imagine Wiley in his studio, carefully mixing his paints, layering those floral motifs, building up this vibrant surface. I wonder if he was thinking about the history of portraiture as he was making this painting. Shavers’ gaze is compelling, his expression relaxed, like he’s totally at ease in his own skin. The way Wiley captures the light on Shavers’ face, it gives him a kind of regal quality. And then, those creeping botanical shapes crawling over his patterned hoodie, and across the wallpaper, it's like they want to claim him. All this detail is balanced by the flat, decorative background. It’s a bold move that really pays off! You get the sense that Wiley’s in conversation with artists from across time, twisting those old traditions into something new.