The Apostle Peter 2006

Kehinde Wiley made this oil on canvas, “The Apostle Peter,” riffing on historical portraiture with his own contemporary twist. Look at how Wiley contrasts the flat, decorative background with the three-dimensional rendering of the figure. The colors are vibrant and saturated, with the red shirt popping against the floral wallpaper. What I find striking is the way the paint is applied. In some areas, like the face, it's blended smoothly, giving a sense of realism. But then you have these sharper, more defined strokes in the clothing and background, almost like the image is collaged together. Notice the gold key he’s holding, the blooms crawling up his jeans! Wiley's paintings always make me think about the power of representation and how art can challenge our expectations. He's like a modern-day Manet, taking cues from art history but pushing it in new directions. It's this push-pull between tradition and innovation that keeps his work so engaging.