After experiencing such a well organized exhibit of inspiring art as I did in the Cone Sisters Show at the Jewish Museum, I had to wonder what other shows were coming up in the museum. New York Times, of course, was there to answer my question in an article about one painting that has inspired an entirely new show. Kehinde Wiley is a rather young artist who exhibits a lot of global culture as well as history in his pieces. His work happens to include a lot of “good-looking men” which seem similar to works by Rubens and Jacques-Louis David. Furthermore, the paintings include “lush and intricately painted backgrounds” which make them even more captivating.
The piece, “Alios 
Itzhak,” which is part of the artist’s series “World Stage: Israel,” is what has recently inspired the Jewish Museum. It is an image of a “handsome Ethiopian-Israeli man in a T-shirt and blue jeans, one hand on his hip, staring with attitude straight at the viewer.” The captivating design behind him is a sort of paper cutout, inspired by a 19th-century Judaica piece which is in the museum’s permanent collection.
According to an associate curator of the Jewish Museum, Wiley’s work includes many of the same interests as the museum. As a result they put a large sum of money together to acquire the painting. The curators now look forward to making a show out of it! It will run from March 9 through July 29!
Wiley’s paintings are definitely different and interesting. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to this show!
You didn’t mention that the painting is 8 feet tall! that is the kind of scale that needs to be seen in person. Interesting. the painting seems to be an odd juxtaposition of the traditional and the contemporary. I’m pleasantly surprised that the museum embraces the modern in this way. Good for them!