Kehinde Wiley has revealed an exclusive collection of portraits featuring African heads of state, marking the culmination of a confidential project initiated in 2012 that delves into the presentation of power.
The inspiration for this endeavor stemmed from the election of Barack Obama in 2008, prompting Kehinde Wiley to contemplate the concept of presidential leadership.
In 2012, the American artist, known for reinterpreting depictions of power and prestige in portrait painting history, envisioned a distinctive series dedicated to African heads of state.
Over the next decade, he journeyed across the continent to meet and engage with these leaders. Collaborating with each one, Wiley delved into the history of aristocratic, royal, and military portraiture from 17th to 19th-century Europe, crafting compositions that capture each leader's unique perspective on contemporary African leadership.