“RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture”. February 8 through October 26, 2008 - Toppling the ivory tower, at the National Portrait Gallery
New York artist Kehinde Wiley subverts artistic traditions with his portraits of young black men in classical scenes
Since its inception in the 1970s, hip hop has been arguably the most influential and popular musical form in America. Its popularity extends beyond the urban centers of its inception and pervades youth culture throughout the world. Images of hip hop stars are as pervasive as the music itself, and the National Portrait Gallery is featuring the work of artists who have explored this phenomenon. David Scheinbaum has been photographing hip hop artists since 2000, both in concert and offstage, including such celebrated groups as Public Enemy, Blackalicious, Phar Cyde, De La Soul and Jurassic-5. Kehinde Wiley, best known for his large, colorful paintings of anonymous young black men, has created portraits of hip hop artists such as LL Cool J and Ice T, each based on a famous European or American painting from the 17th through 19th centuries |
