Saint Clement 2013

Kehinde Wiley created *Saint Clement* using oil on canvas. It's such a bold statement, isn't it? I can imagine Wiley, mixing up those vibrant reds and blues, carefully placing each cross on the figure's jacket, like a contemporary take on a royal coat of arms. But then, he throws in that ampersand, almost like a playful graffiti tag, disrupting the formality. And the background! Those repeated pineapple motifs create a lush, almost overwhelming backdrop. It feels like Wiley is inviting us to question who gets to be immortalized in art, turning the traditional portrait on its head. It’s as if Wiley whispers, “Let’s remix history.” And by doing so, he places himself in a long conversation with other artists, playing, challenging, and ultimately expanding our understanding of what painting can be.