Kehinde Wiley exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly: A Pictorial Journey through African Power

TheKehinde Wiley Exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Paris awaits you from September 26, 2023 to January 14, 2024. The artist unveils a series of portraits of African heads of state that Kehinde Wiley began conceptualizing in 2012, during the first black presidency in the United States.

The initiative grew out of the artist's reflection on presidential leadership. Wiley traveled Africa for ten years, meeting with leaders to discuss the history of aristocratic, royal and military portraiture, and thus co-creating works revealing leaders' unique perspectives on contemporary African governance.

The works depicted are designed to:

• Reflect the distinctive cultural elements of each state,
• Highlight the diversity of the African continent,
• Reveal an individual's identity through the prism of the artist and role model.
  

They also aim to deconstruct the contours of the ego and strategies for constructing a public image. A film accompanying the exhibition presents the artist's approach and travels.

We appreciate the depth of Wiley's investigation into the staging of power through portraiture, highlighting the complex choices faced by artists, historical role models and contemporary leaders.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 23 - 29, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• What to do in Paris in December 2024? Discover this month's events in the Paris Region
• Free museums and monuments this Sunday: places to visit in Paris on January 5, 2025

Artist biography: Kehinde Wiley, born in 1977 in Los Angeles, is known for his modern reinterpretations of classical portraits, conferring power and prestige on individuals often excluded from such representations. His work crosses painting, sculpture and video, challenging and redefining historical narratives. In 2018, he became the first African-American artist to create an official portrait of the President of the United States for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. He then founds Black Rock Senegal in 2019, a multidisciplinary residential program in Dakar.

Collaboration: Produced in collaboration with Galerie Templon, the exhibition promises immersion in a profound artistic and political conversation, offering an enriching perspective on the role and identity of contemporary African heads of state.

By revealing the complex issues of power and representation, theKehinde Wiley Exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Paris proves to be much more than a simple artistic presentation, but an invitation to reflect on crucial political and cultural themes of our time.

The Royal Ballet of Cambodia: a traditional dance performance at the Musée du Quai Branly
On the occasion of the "Au fil de l'or" exhibition, the Musée du Quai Branly welcomes the Royal Ballet of Cambodia for three exceptional traditional dance performances on March 8 and 9, 2025. [Read more]

Au fil de l'or: the brilliant exhibition on gold in the art of fashion at the Musée du Quai Branly
The Musée du Quai Branly takes us into a sparkling universe, where gold meets the art of textiles. Travel from the Orient to the Land of the Rising Sun with the Au fil de l'or exhibition, on view from February 11 to July 6, 2025. [Read more]

Wayang Kulit, shadow theater from Java and Bali: the exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly, our photos
The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris immerses us in traditional Indonesian culture through the small exhibition "Wayang Kulit, shadow theater from Java and Bali". On view from Tuesday, November 12, 2024 to Sunday, March 23, 2025, this installation introduces us to 'wayang kulit' shadow theater, described as a performance show, and considered both a popular and timeless art form. [Read more]

Zombies: death is not the end? The Frontiers of Life exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly
The Musée du Quai Branly plunges us into the mysteries of life and death, with the exhibition Zombis: la mort n'est pas une fin? on view from October 8, 2024 to February 16, 2025. [Read more]

Tarō Okamoto, Japan reinvented: a new exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly
Want to discover one of the great figures of Japanese avant-gardism? Head to the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris from Tuesday, April 15 to Sunday, September 7, 2025 to admire the exhibition devoted to the multidisciplinary Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto. [Read more]

The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris: a journey to the heart of the world's cultures
The Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, just a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower, offers a fascinating journey through the world's cultures. This unique museum, nestled in a green setting, is a must for lovers of ethnography and cultural discovery. [Read more]