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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 1

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An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

1 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 2

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An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

2 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 3

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An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

3 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 4

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

4 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 5

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

5 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 6

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

6 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 7

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

7 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 8

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

8 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
My Gallery
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 9

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

9 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 10

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

10 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 11

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

11 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
My Gallery
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 12

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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

12 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley | An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012 | 13

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An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

13 / 13

Sean Kelly announces An Economy of Grace, Kehinde Wiley’s debut exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition represents a significant departure from Wiley’s previous subject matter by depicting African-American women, his first-ever series dedicated to female subjects. The models for the paintings were cast on the streets of New York City. Their poses are based on historical portraits of society women by Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent, among others. Instead of representing the models in their own clothes, as is the case with his portraits of men, Wiley has collaborated with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of the famed French couture house Givenchy, to design long dresses for the women. As creative collaborators, Wiley and Tisci spent numerous hours together walking through the galleries of the Louvre and discussing both the aesthetic and conceptual context for the project, specifically society’s ideals of feminine beauty and the frequent marginalization of women of color. Following these conversations, Tisci designed six unique dresses for the models. The resulting paintings to be shown in An Economy of Grace are a celebration of black women, creating a rightful place for them within art history, which has to date been an almost exclusively white domain.In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon, and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right. I am painting women in order to come to terms with the depictions of gender within the context of art history. One has to broaden the conversation...This series of works attempts to reconcile the presence of black female stereotypes that surrounds their presence and/or absence in art history, and the notions of beauty, spectacle, and the ‘grand’ in painting.”A documentary film project about An Economy of Grace is being produced in conjunction with Remy Martin®, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Dupre. Interspersed with personal dialogue, historical narrative, and critical commentary, the documentary will offer unprecedented insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the dynamic collaboration between Wiley and Tisci. It will also share the personal stories of the young women chosen as the models, with insight into their lives and backgrounds. More

Kehinde Wiley
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Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York City, USA, May 6 - June 16, 2012

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