“Kehinde Wiley”

Kehinde Wiley was born in Los Angeles, California. His artistic journey began when his mother enrolled him in after-school art classes. At age 11, he ventured to Russia as part of an art exchange program.

After high school, he pursued his passion and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from San Francisco Art Institute and later earned a Master of Fine Arts at Yale University. Wiley's signature style emerged as he painted heroic portraits of young African American men he met on the streets.

In 2015, he received the National Medal of Arts for his significant contributions to the art world.

In 2018 he became the first African American artist to paint an official U.S. Presidential portrait for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, immortalizing President Barack Obama.

HELLA INSPIRED.