My Global Hustle

Kehinde Wiley has made a name for himself painting African-American men in heroic poses in front of bright, Baroque backgrounds. The consistency and vividness of his style has made him one of the more sought-after — and collectible — young artists working today. But for his first exhibition at Sean Kelly Gallery, which signed the artist to its roster last year, Wiley will make a departure. For the first time, he will paint women.

The exhibition, “An Economy of Grace,” features portraits of African-American women Wiley cast on the streets of New York City. But rather than paint them in their own clothes, as Wiley has done in the past with his male subjects, the artist collaborated with Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci to design six unique dresses for the models. (Before they began work on the gowns, Wiley and Tisci spent hours walking through the galleries of the Lourve for inspiration.)

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