Kehinde Wiley: the black power painter

Paintings by Wiley are displayed during the 'Kehinde Wiley - Daedalus Of Power' exhibition at The Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac museum in Paris. Photo: AFP

Kehinde Wiley made his name painting ordinary African-Americans in classical European style, but after a high-profile commission from Barack Obama he is focusing on a different form of black power with a new show looking at African leaders.

Wiley's portraits borrow the codes of Old Master paintings usually associated with kings and religious saints, often setting his subjects against wildly colourful and flowery backgrounds.