Kehinde Wiley - Creating Art That’s Familiar in an Unfamiliar Way | The Daily Show

[@FleetsAPArtHistory]

I'm an art and art history teacher, and Kehinde Wiley is one of the artists I introduce to students to discuss contemporary portraiture. His methods are so interesting: he goes out on the street and asks every-day folks to be his subjects, then invites them to his studio to go through art history textbooks and works with them to create a portrait that both the artist and the sitter feel represents them. His work is so subversive in that he is painting a contemporary history of black and brown folks from a historical lens, and inviting members of these communities to call the shots in terms of how they are represented in art. If you're interested in contemporary black artists, I definitely recommend looking up Wangechi Mutu, Yinka Shonibare, and Kara Walker, too! I would love to see them interviewed on the show in the future too, if at all possible!

[@cherylalt101]

Caroline F Thanks for the interesting info and the recommendations of other artists. It's great that you introduce your students to not only his work but his methods. Have a great day and keep up the good work as our kids need all the education they can get in the arts!

[@mothmansgf]

my art teacher introduced us to kehinde and kara! we actually took a trip to the barnes foundation in philly and i saw some of their pieces in person!

[@nomnomdestroy]

Thanks so much for the recommendation and Info!

[@crystalc6358]

Indeed! Thank you for sharing related artists.

[@MsRachelleRay]

I love your feedback, and thank you for the artist suggestions, I am a HS art teacher and I always teach Kehinde Wiley and Kara Walker but because of your comment I am adding Wangechi Mutu and Yinka Shonibare.

[@shreki2057]

Hey, I don't know if any of The Daily Show staff is reading here, but I really wanted to commend you on the consistent integrity you have shown over the last few years with your choices in interviewees.

[@dameonaquest7607]

At first I thought either Trevor is the most interesting interviewer there is or he brings the most interesting guests. But then I realized he is just a magical combination of both 😁

[@ntatemohlomi2884]

You do results like the dimpled one don't you Dame Ellis?

[@beyondempowerment]

Yes

[@ohmy1670]

Softball interview for a bad artist.

[@FangirlRandomscrew]

Dame Ellis Kehinde is fantastically well spoken. Came to VMFA revealing of Rumours of War with no notes. Stunned me

[@lady8jane]

Fun fact: One of Napoleon's generals was a black man, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. General Dumas was also the father of Alexandre Dumas, who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

[@bernlin2000]

Lol...Dumas

[@terihenri7230]

Thanks for that info, had to hit up wikipedia.

[@mxmedia4318]

Are you kidding me? Really? Thanks. Monte Cristo was me favorite.

[@Eliburgo]

He was a mixed man and biracial his father was white his mother was black

[@thierrykaya766]

@@Eliburgo That's odd. When a Black achiever with caucasian heritage is celebrated, white supremacists come around and hush away his Black heritage and stress his caucasian heritage, as if it is why she\he was an achiever in the first place but when there is a negative\embarrassing event or act involving a Black person with caucasian heritage , we are reminded that that person is Black. Funny isn't it?

[@annatyra671]

Love, love, love his message. Two great men chatting, so awesome. Spreading a message of love, equality and greatness

[@atlanteancherub2560]

He is just such a beautiful person, inside and out. So inspiring.

[@Silinganiso]

Fell in love with Kehinde's work when I bumped into his 'Rumors of War' statue while visiting New York. I was so excited to see a young black man in a fade, ripped jeans and Nikes on a high horse. He's another reason why I love Nigeria.🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 And I'm Swati🇸🇿🇸🇿🇸🇿😊😊😊

[@chriscleveland4802]

One of my favorite artists. He's also probably also the first LGBT artist to paint a presidential portrait. Kehinde Wiley breaking barriers like crazy!

[@AustenObsessed]

The first openly LGBTQ+ artist.

[@jaybee5832]

Answers my question. ✌🏿

[@HayTatsuko]

We studied Mr. Wiley's art in Art History when I was in college. Remarkable man, remarkable art. Thanks for giving him more nationwide exposure on your show, Mr. Noah.

[@nancyanneberg403]

No pressure, but this is history...... Love him.

[@alexinara7095]

I love the way Trevo puts it. "Familiar in an Unfamiliar way" Amazing.

[@jacquelinej4819]

I’m getting some real LeVar Burton vibes from his voice and it’s amazing.

[@mrhlombe-luckymsomi6187]

Trevor - "You create art that we're familiar with in an unfamiliar way" Pablo Picasso - "Art is a lie that makes us to realize the truth"

[@sihlemsomi9567]

Nomndayi

[@mrhlombe-luckymsomi6187]

@@sihlemsomi9567 Hlombe... 💕 owakwethu wena 🤗

[@sihlemsomi9567]

@@mrhlombe-luckymsomi6187 aw igaz lam, Mangamahle

[@mrhlombe-luckymsomi6187]

@@sihlemsomi9567 ngiphilile Meyiwa, kunjan kuwe?

[@sihlemsomi9567]

@@mrhlombe-luckymsomi6187 Nami ngiyaphila, singila,asbonge nje ukuthi sazesazana

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

Nice to finally see an artist interviewed. It happens so seldom outside the four walls of the artist community itself.

[@somebodyontheinternet1090]

Taking over the imagery of the powerful is pure genius.

[@ohmy1670]

Nah, the beauty of the oppressed man is much more dificult.

[@cherylalt101]

somebody on the internet absolutely!

[@guardianAngel22]

I am absolutely in love with Kehinde Wiley. From the larger-than-life scales of his artwork to the way he not only has tried to humanize black ppl but make them feel empowered, gives me chills every time. Great guest, and an even better conversation.

[@shalonrivers6732]

I really appreciate Mr. Wiley as an Artist. His impressions and visions of things in his world that he portrays are awesome for our culture and creates conversations.

[@davidishola4973]

Who else clicked so fast after seeing "Kehinde" in the name 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

[@AfolabiDhulqarnain]

Me bro😂😂😂😂

[@jamesekeke1182]

Same

[@endysherry]

I did

[@titysardonyx207]

Me oooo

[@Afrimusican]

Yessoo

[@djinnisequoia]

I was so stoked to see that Obama's portrait featured such a profusion of healthy, exuberant plant life. I can't imagine anything more auspicious, more reverant, or more fitting than that this wonderful man is surrounded by irrepressible life. Thank you, Mr. Wiley. As a painter too, I have the greatest respect for you.

[@mlggamer5296]

Wait he made the portrait for Obama? I absolutely loved it. It had an excellent mix of presidential with his cool chill self. Definitely well represented. I particularly like the pieces with black women in it. What they technically mean in the words of Tarrus Riley here in Jamaica is that "she's royal yeah so royal"

[@wildhogs1ful]

NO A STRONG BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN PAINTED WITH CLOTHING ON. THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS HIS HATE FOR HER

[@mlggamer5296]

@@wildhogs1ful I don't know what his thought process was about painting them with little clothes on but I get the feeling it wasn't because he hates women. Maybe he's trying to highlight beauty? He definitely doesn't have hate for them though

[@ohmy1670]

@@mlggamer5296 He's just trying to get paid. The subjects are fake progressives. Next!

[@tori2dles]

Sara Israel - “The subjects in Wiley's paintings often wear sneakers, hoodies, and baseball caps, gear associated with hip-hop culture, and are set against contrasting ornate decorative backgrounds that evoke earlier eras and a range of cultures. Through the process of "street casting," Wiley invites individuals, often strangers he encounters on the street, to sit for portraits. In this collaborative process, the model chooses a reproduction of a painting from a book and reenacts the pose of the painting’s figure. By inviting the subjects to select a work of art, Wiley gives them ‘control over the way they’re portrayed.’” Hence, he doesn’t choose their clothing. He portrays them as they are on the street and they choose which European masterpiece they want to imitate. gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/photos-catch-kehinde-wileys-stunning-show-at-the-brooklyn-museum#photo-1

[@inolaelujewel7932]

Kehinde Wiley is a brilliant man, his work is phenomenal!!! I thank him for creating a beautiful statue that resonates with my people, because we are more than what people call us.

[@rileyhabyl3343]

Kenhide Wiley is fantastic. To produce art that gives power to the powerless and gives dignity to those robbed of theirs is absolutely doing something powerful and inspirational. Bringing historical conversations to the forefront and forcing people to ask hard questions and reevaluate what they think they know about history is invaluable and in times like these we absolutely need representation of black individuals as strong, powerful, dignified, and beautiful. Fantastic work.

[@anjalibaskar6255]

last time i was this early, trevor noah went to south africa to visit his grandmother

[@pitti-sing1203]

Anjali Baskar He's wonderful! Thanks for the good laugh this morning. I needed it!

[@Wanda_RSA]

Well Trevor is in south Africa

[@MrPrentissDJones]

I’m going to the Brooklyn museum, FYI I have a small project by this artist, I absolutely love this artist

[@Arri2000]

One of my favorite artists!

[@elicather8168]

I’m going to the school that he went to, which is really small, and I hear people talking about him all the time. Everyone here is just so proud of him and the beautiful work he’s done. I feel really lucky to be able to go to the school that such an amazing artist went to.

[@linameeswanson8897]

Where did he go to school?

[@elicather8168]

Linamee Swanson he went to San Francisco Art Institute. It’s a really great school. Super small.

[@linameeswanson8897]

@@elicather8168 thanks eli!

[@ShayTBD]

This was a very touching interview - I love the caliber & depth of Mr. K. Wiley.

[@louiealbrecht1088]

Beautiful portait from an artist gutsy enough to create something different from what we're used to seeing.

[@AustenObsessed]

And a president gutsy enough to hire him and go along with it.

[@cherylalt101]

Louie Albrecht I especially love that he took those damn statues the southern states like to claim can't be removed because "they are an important part of our confederate history" when in reality most were not erected until the 1930s-1950s and not in confederate times and he modernized them using a contemporary black man. He completely changed the symbolism, making those offensive statues obsolete.

[@Dan-ud8hz]

Inspiring interview. Kehinde Wiley truly loves his muses.

[@erylla2985]

"Saying yes to people that happen to look like me" damn that's pretty !

[@lindastonebraker2512]

I’m really enjoying Trevor Noah’s sense of humor and story choices. The topics are very original. I love hearing this backstory and finding out about the artist!!!

[@SaraMartinez-nc3xu]

I first saw his work at the Brooklyn Museum and it blew me away! I haven't forgotten his name since.

[@TheWolfeDen]

I was at the Columbus Museum of Art and saw one of his pieces. I loved it so much that I bought a small print of it. I had no idea he painted Obama's portrait, too. I love his distinct style!

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Gosh, I wish I'd bought his painting at Art Basel in Basel last spring. If another pops up this year, it's mine. Great interviewee, interviewer... einfach gutes Interview. Ganz toll. Vielen Dank, Trevor!

[@Botanica2012]

for those who don't know German: just a good interview. Really amazing. Thanks a lot, Trevor!

[@tamiredding2242]

Wow, what an inspiring man and artist!

[@pamelabonaparte9383]

His art in person is so Powerful ! The size the texture .....color....Just Amazing! Was lucky enough to catch his work on display in Seattle. Go if you can you are seeing history. The magnitude of the size of some of the work will bring you to tears . 🌳💐🌸

[@shamoney992]

Just love the flowers and what it stands for

[@PogieJoe]

What a incredible person and artist!

[@sdfkjgh]

3:13 Someone please tell me that that statue has built-in speakers that play Old Town Road.

[@barbarabanks7273]

No it does not. Sorry.

[@rpggrrl]

No, but I’m proud to live a few blocks away from it at the VMFA!

[@sdfkjgh]

Barbara Banks: Aww, boo! Sadclownface.

[@LindaMitchell]

I love his presidential portrait of Obama. It's so vivid and lively.

[@prettygal_rai4096]

Never thought that art can have soooo much meaning

[@FangirlRandomscrew]

I got the pleasure of being at the revealing of Rumours of War at the VMFA in Virginia. Beautiful piece and incredibly tall. The whole city is blessed to have a statue like that here

[@sknkwrksowner]

Made a trip up last weekend after seeing this video earlier. Quick 2 hours from Raleigh where we have 2 of his pieces in collection!

[@bunniebyrd2720]

Wow! What an amazing artist Glad to have found out about him

[@TommyMartinezpt]

My favorite quote from him is “It’s sort of a play on the ‘kill whitey’ thing.” Amazing, I don't know what I love the most, this quote or the fact his paintings are painted in Communist China 🇨🇳 by locals . Bravo, very brave of him to be anti slavery and get some slave work done by Chinese. This is my favorite pastime, looking up at hypocrisy.

[@PuleTimothyNdaba]

Love his art works ...brilliant artist

[@Inkythegoat]

I love that an artist gets his dew

[@cherylalt101]

TTv GOTM_ Boys2 gets his due not dew, but other than that minor correction, I love it too. Artists need recognition and we the public need exposure and education to all the fabulous art and music we can get!

[@SlonikHa]

such an interesting interview! thank you Trevor and the team of the Daily Show!

[@cbrg870]

I like this dude for some reason

[@KitraNtheFirst]

Just saw President Obama's portrait for the first time this week in the Portrait Gallery. It is truly amazing in person. My favorite of all of the portraits.

[@sueboo5830]

God I love his work!!! Just incredible

[@NOYBZ]

The Homer Simpson meme 😂😂spot on 🔥😭😭

[@sophidina34]

I'm writing an epic fantasy series which has a cast of black characters. For a while I've been thinking, "why am I even doing this?" This interview reminded me why. It's because it's time for young black kids to see themselves in the media in all their awesomeness and with full agency, not just as tokens or stereotypes. We've had to deal with media not representing us for a long time. It's ok for us to see ourselves in stories that depict us with the fullness of our beings and independent of society's ideas of what we should be. It's ok for us to see that we can actually just be.

[@myabishaibyfatimabey4976]

Love this! I love his artistic ideas! Thank you for telling us!

[@TheDragonSmasher]

his Michael Jackson portrait is stunning as well

[@alexorjustlex]

I would really love a biopic on this man

[@tamaracharese]

Fascinating!!!

[@margorgogo]

Great artist. Great interview. Thank you. #IHeartTrevor

[@joyl3321]

Wow, I was going to skip over this, then it becomes captivating to hear a great interview and a great guest.

[@sherinestomer5471]

Listening to articulate black men is such a turn on!

[@theswiftschoolofselfhealing]

You said it !!!

[@cherylalt101]

Sher Sher listening to any articulate men is so special. Sorry, I couldn't help myself lol.

[@imaginethat5115]

Y'all sound so lame maybe be around educate people ... Black Americans are passionate in what they believe...stop caring about how we talk and understand the culture... We talk different and express different.. The message it the point...

[@UnwarrantedCuriosity]

I honestly can't even look at Obama without tearing up.

[@AngelMary]

You're not the only one. I find myself crying even more lately w/ the political climate the way it has been. Sad for the downfall of our country. 😥

[@jd3422]

I'll tell you when I teared up upon looking at Wiley's Obama portrait: it was 2018 in the National Portrait Gallery, seeing it there for the first time, and thinking about the person who was then President of the USA. The contrast made me burst into tears, right there in the gallery.

[@deedeeschneider4521]

Kehinde went to Marvin Av Elementary School, where I taught. Many of the teachers donated money to help him advance his career... sending him to Art school, I think in Russia. He's so talented.

[@jackbandoproductions]

We 💜💜💜💜 You Kehinde!!!!

[@prajullas]

With lots of respect to you both from Kerala.

[@jcwt_pdx]

His art is beautiful and amazing 🤩😍

[@MaryamofShomal]

Arguably one of the greatest portraits of all time. God bless Mr. Wiley and God bless his subject, the greatest President in American history: Barack Obama. ✊🏽🇺🇸✊🏽

[@marvin932]

I did a report in college on Wiley. Keep up the good work!

[@MusicfromMarrs]

Rumors of War is now on display at the VA Art Museum, which is on the Boulevard, blocks south of Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA. For those who don’t know, Monument Avenue began with a statue of RE Lee and extended west from there, featuring a number of Confederate soldiers. Rumors of War is a nice foil to the BS that still exists in the median of Monument Ave.

[@sknkwrksowner]

He said that and I ran to Google to see where in Va. lol I live in Raleigh, so def coming up for it! We have two of his paintings here in the perm collection. indyweek.com/news/recent-backlash-kehinde-wiley-s-work-ncma-gets-wrong-art-s-past-present/

[@danieazor5176]

beautiful arts and great inspiration

[@dianadesjadon3749]

Beautiful man. Great art

[@BotHoleAssassin]

Damm this man is amazing

[@yasmineshal6826]

wow this artist is awesome

[@deborahblackshear3325]

Thanks Trevor for sharing this.

[@KarrieFord]

Usually I would skip this type video; not a super well known person being interviewed. Little did I know, this guy is very interesting and engaging. Well done, sir. (Disclaimer: I live under a rock and know nobody.)

[@cherylalt101]

Karrie Ford I make sure I don't skip any Daily Show or Trevor Noah interviews whether Trevor is the interviewer or the interviewee because he has a wonderful perspective on the world. I too was "living under a rock" for a few years and am happy to see the Daily Show in such capable hands. Whoever the guest, Trevor always makes it interesting and informative!

[@MissTiffanyGalore]

I did not know that he was so hilarious

[@ZeroSnake]

This is amazing

[@theswiftschoolofselfhealing]

Lovely work. Bravo!!!

[@arbaazpathan7018]

From india Trevor u r just amazing 😍

[@reneeroberson1217]

Love It💓💓💓💓

[@katajolina]

Lovin' that jacket:)

[@ey2496]

Amazing 😍🤩

[@mikelee7037]

I like this program.

[@tori2dles]

5:31 - Want to hear something cool? Thomas-Alexandre Dumas was the son of a white French father and black enslaved mother (born in Haiti) who “... played a pivotal role in the French Revolutionary Wars.” “Entering the military as a private at age 24, Dumas rose by age 31 to command 53,000 troops as the General-in-Chief of the French Army of the Alps.* Dumas's strategic victory in opening the high Alps passes enabled the French to initiate their Second Italian Campaign against the Austrian Empire.” “During the battles in Italy, Austrian troops nicknamed Dumas the Schwarzer Teufel (‘Black Devil’ OT ‘Diable Noir’ in French). The French-notably Napoleon-nicknamed him ‘the Horatius Cocles of the Tyrol’ (after a hero who had saved ancient Rome) for single-handedly defeating a squadron of enemy troops at a bridge over the Eisack River in Clausen (today Klausen, or Chiusa, Italy).” en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas-Alexandre_Dumas * The painting mimics an original of Napoleon entitled, “Napoleon Crossing the Alps.” Dumas has a similar painting by a different artist. But I’m unsure what mountains he’s crossing since the name is only “Général Alexandre Dumas.” commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandre_Dumas_(1762-1806).JPG Love how that painting is factual in one respect when you think about Dumas. BTW, Dumas’ son would pen the beloved books “Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers.” He drew from his dad’s experiences as, though his dad was wildly successful, Napoleon would later become angered with him, throw him in jail and subject him to great hardships. EDIT: I wonder if he knows that?

[@Plastikloud]

You are doing an amazing job for the future ❤

[@gravelbar]

Amazing man.

[@nacarreira777]

He's a very talented artist. And I LOVE his jacket.

[@debrachase3131]

I LOVE that sculpture! I always thought they should just knock the guys off those confederate sculptures and leave the wonderful horse sculptures.(Horse lover, here;)

[@eferg16]

Powerful

[@danieldib2286]

So impressed

[@hlengykhambule3456]

I was just in a class with Trevor teaching me about art #Amazing Work #BlackhistoryDoesMatter

[@yegonizer]

Awesome

[@bonaventureokoli7988]

Nigeria going places still

[@joeylopezdesign]

Why am I crying?

[@jacksonbecker9374]

I was on a field trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art the day they were unveiling Rumours of War, but our teacher made us leave about half an hour before the unveiling. Was mighty upset about it.

[@FangirlRandomscrew]

Jackson Becker they had a fluke with the dreads the curtain got stuck on them. Mighty funny. If you have the means to go back I would highly suggest it! Bus 5 runs down main to arther Ashe if you’re in area

[@jodyjock]

So Cool

[@ipsilonia]

loved this. is kehinde teaching art analysis next semester? i want to sign up.

[@bradmiech5743]

Love is in the air spring is coming. Simplicity 1 of 2 the people must choose. It's not about me it's about ending tyranny. Simplicity humanitarianism or authoritarianism. Love or hate. Unity or division. Peace or War. We the People our constitution choose humanitarianism. Spread the love. Have a great day, until we meet again happier Trails ahead.

[@aikenodubitan5256]

Bernie 2020

[@bradmiech5743]

@@aikenodubitan5256 the system molds and creates Who We Are. I could speak for hours connecting the dots. It's not complicated we're just told so. Progress is inevitable. He cannot be stopped only delayed. Take any issue narrow it down one of two. We the People are the Press. Simplicity is the best. The gods work mysteriously. Our spirits experiences is what guides. I'm repeating myself. It's not about me it's about Unity. Not about me it's about end in tyranny bullies fascism authoritarianism and more. Power corrupts. We the working bees obey comply and follow the laws. Thank you thank you thank you have a great day my fellow humanitarian, my fellow Americans. Time we all Unite as we have in the past. Have a great day spread the love. The numbers are on our side. Around our world of authoritarian say 500 million. We the working bees our numbers 7.7 billion. USA working bees 300 million. Compared to 1 million. Not even a contest anymore it's not a game. Put an end to the bullying have a great day remember to smile our world is uniting. 50 senators are making a grave mistake 50 of 350 million.

[@Jaysyn_]

hey Trevor tuning in from cpt

[@commonsense571]

Yes

[@Amusementvidyoz]

Woooooow!!!

[@melodyboudreaux7141]

I thought it was one of those magic pictures where if you change your focus, there is a hidden image! 😂