Welcome to The 12 Days of Artmas, our new non-denominational holiday masterpieces – advent calendar with gift ideas and stories for art lovers of all stripes, coming down daily through December 24th.
Kehinde Wiley, the African-American illustrator known for his erotic, realistic portraits of black characters — including Barack Obama — against colorful backgrounds, has launched a limited-edition clothing and design collection in support of Black Rock, the artist’s non-profit residence in Dakar, Senegal that he founded in 2019.
Featuring basketballs, candles, playing cards, puffy coats, and jerseys, the collection features a selection of motifs from Wiley’s paintings, with each design adapted directly from an original artwork. Additionally, to celebrate the launch, Wiley is selling a copy of his artwork Demetrius study (2021), also for BlackRock.
Proceeds from all purchases, available for pre-order through the Kehinde Wiley Shop, directly support, according to a statement from the artist, the mission of his residency: “to bring together artists, thinkers and innovators from around the world; to offer a platform for these artists to engage in multicultural and interdisciplinary creative processes; and building new global discourses about Africa and the African diaspora.”
See below for some of the items on offer at the Kehinde Wiley Shop.
Kehinde Wiley, Saint Joseph’s death, 2017 Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley Shop.
Saint Joseph’s death for basketball (See featured image) for a larger detail from Wiley’s 2017 painting, Saint Joseph’s deathInspired by classic 18th century biblical cartoons and reimagined for a contemporary audience. According to Wiley, “The design focus is on the open hand of the model, inviting multicultural conversation and the connection between time and space.” Available here for $150. Meanwhile, the Death of St. Joseph here for $140.
Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley Shop.
Florilegium Besler, hoodie shoe seller It features images from Wiley’s 2012 painting of the same name, which Wiley selected, according to a statement from Kehinde Wiley Store, “because of the lush greenery and crimson hibiscus against a background of vibrant azure.” The board has been reimagined and reimagined for the unisex upper, featuring a plush cotton interior and a satin-lined cap, to create a “new narrative version of this fantasy of the everyday hero.” Available here for $280.
Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley Shop.
Plain silk pajama set He combines images from four Wiley paintings to create a one-of-a-kind tapestry that reflects the artist’s travels to Brazil, Cameroon, Israel and Mali. The unisex collection “features a vibrant depiction of contemporary black and brown men in multicultural national settings that re-imagine that grandiose historical art narrative in portraiture,” Wiley notes. The four panels are: Marshal Floriano Peixoto II (2009); Benedict Brko (2011); Florilegium Besler, shoe seller (2012); And Second Dogon Couple (2013). Available here for $650.
Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley Shop.
puffer coat Wiley’s Cross-Cultural Ornament Comments Off on Multicultural Design Keren Alexander Study (2011). You’ll find the image of the original artwork on the back of the coat. Available here for $800.
Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley Shop.
Grace cards Wiley Features Dacia Carter II (2012), a painting from the artist’s “Economy of Grace” series, which celebrates the strength and beauty of black women. The deck shows a semi-model Dacia Carter, who is depicted as a kind of goddess against a background of green and pink plants. Available here for $30.
Previous stories in this series:
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The best gifts that art insiders have received, from a picture of Mapplethorpe to dinner plates by Laboratorio Paravicini
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Who could not use the guidance of gifts from the universe? We’ve Consulted 5 Experts in Art and Astrology
If you’re looking for a fragrance to give, we suggest a bottle of Chanel No. 5 – an icon and muse of artists celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Are you still shopping for the art and fashion lover in your life? Check Out This Elegant Museum (Think The Met x Brother Vellies)
For travelers, consider the Virgil Abloh-designed luggage that reimagines the legacy of Louis Vuitton
On the first day of Artmas, my true love gave me…a step-by-step guide to gifting an NFT
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