Colony Little, Culture Shock Art

It’s a good week for contemporary artists of color. While the MacArthur Fellowship announcements kept me buoyed all week, the news that the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery announcement was extra special.

Michelle and Barack Obama have chosen Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley to paint their respective portraits which will be debuted by the National Portrait Gallery in the spring of 2018. Both artists are the first black painters commissioned by the Smithsonian.

Both artists were featured in CAAM’s last portraiture show called Face to Face.

Amy Sherald, “Pythagore”

Kehinde Wiley, “Apotheosis of Admiral Vettor Pisani”

Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-choose-rising-stars-to-paint-their-official-portraits-1507905689