The Honourable Augustus Keppel, Admiral of the Blue II

About the Art

One of America's leading artists, Kehinde Wiley's reputation comes from his larger-than-life portraits, typically of young, African American men. The models are often everyday people Wiley encounters in New York City who he asks to select a pose based upon European paintings—this pose is inspired by a painting by British artist Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792). The floral pattern is intended to suggest 18th-and 19th-century wallpaper designs. By depicting black men in these classical, Euro-centric compositions, Wiley challenges the traditions of portraiture and highlights the omission of black representation within art history.

In 2018, Wiley painted the official portrait of President Obama for the National Portrait Gallery.

FEATURED IMAGE
Kehinde Wiley (American, born 1977), The Honourable Augustus Keppel, Admiral of the Blue II, 2006, oil on canvas, frame: 82 1/4 x 70 1/4 inches 71 x 60 inches (180.3 x 152.4 cm). Museum purchase with funds from James F. Dicke Family, Associate Board Art Ball Proceeds, Margie Mack Yowell Fund, 2026.28