Portrait Artist Explains Why He Painted Obama In Front Of A Bush
US Former U.S. President Barack Obama greets artist Kehinde Wiley during the unveiling of his port..
US
Former U.S. President Barack Obama greets artist Kehinde Wiley during the unveiling of his portrait at the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Bourg
4:34 PM 02/12/2018
WhatsApp
Share
TOP
The artist who painted former President Barack Obama’s official portrait explained the rationale for his unique design in a speech Monday during the unveiling at the National Portrait Gallery.
Kehinde Wiley, a New York City-based artist, explained the deeper meaning behind the portrait of Obama sitting in front of a bush.
“In a very symbolic way what I’m doing is charting his path on Earth through those plants,” Wile said.
The painting also includes flowers in the bush, which hold specific meaning for significant places of the 44th president. The chrysanthemums are the official flower of Chicago, the jasmine is a nod to Hawaii, and the African blue lilies reference Obama’s father and family from Kenya, according to The Guardian.
“There’s a fight going on between he in the foreground and the plants that are trying to announce themselves underneath his feet. Who gets to be the star of the show? The story or the man who inhabits that story?” Wiley said.
WATCH:
Artist Kehinde Wiley on botanicals in @BarackObama portrait: “In a very symbolic way what I’m doing is charting his path on Earth through those plants…” pic.twitter.com/cgIwY0YuUc
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 12, 2018
The same artist also created two paintings depicting a black women beheading a white woman, a modern-day interpretation of the Judith and Holofernes tale.
Kehinde Wiley the man who painted @POTUS44 presidential portrait has paintings showing blacks beheading whites pic.twitter.com/PvKCLXf78W
— Joe Biggs (@Rambobiggs) February 12, 2018
The Portrait Gallery began the tradition of an official presidential portrait in 1994, with George H.W. Bush as the first subject. First ladies were added to the tradition in 2006, with Hillary Clinton as the first subject.
Send tips to [email protected]
Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
