Kehinde Wiley

Known for his vibrant, larger-than-life reinterpretations of classical portraits featuring young African American men, New York-based visual artist Kehinde Wiley has turned the practice of portraiture on its head—and in the process, has taken the art world by storm. Wiley recently embarked on an exciting new project: a series of classical portraits of African-American women—something he’s never done before. The film documents the project as it unfolds, tracking Wiley’s process from concept to canvas, and coming to know the women whom he selects to paint. As with Wiley’s previous work, his models were street-cast in New York City and posed so as to recall the 18th and 19th century portraits of society figures, which inspire Wiley’s vision. Rather than wearing their own clothing, however Wiley envisioned each of his female models swathed in an original couture gown. The documentary is an exploration of what beauty is in the 21st century and offers a tantalizing look at the intersection of art and fashion and an intimate portrait of one of this generation’s most intriguing and accomplished visionaries.