Arms Of Nicolaas Ruterius, Bishop Of Arras 2014

Kehinde Wiley made "Arms Of Nicolaas Ruterius, Bishop Of Arras" and like so much of his work, it’s this incredible mash-up of history and the present. The vivid colors, the flatness of the forms - all scream stained glass but then bam! The subject is a modern man, painted with such precision. The material itself - glass and paint - they’ve got this weight and permanence to them. The texture isn't something built up on the surface, but implied through light, shadow, and color. Look closely at the way Wiley renders the clothing. It's almost like he’s saying, hey, art can be about power, about identity, and about re-writing the rules. Wiley is in conversation with artists from the past, and yet carving his own space, with his distinctive mark. It's a good reminder that art thrives on these echoes and revisions.