Kehinde Wiley: Painter of the Epic at Centre d’art La Malmaison, Cannes is the first major survey of the African American artist’s work in France. Curated by Numa Hambursin, the exhibition brings together almost thirty works to demonstrate the complex visual vocabulary that has guided Wiley’s practice for over a decade. Amongst the works on display are significant paintings from the artist’s acclaimed ‘The World Stage’ series.
David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes reflects, “Of course, Wiley, outraged by the lack of presence of African-American people like himself in classic American paintings, is interested more in origins than in social status, but a parallel with the spotlight on our everyday heroes during this pandemic—healthcare workers, cashiers, packers, municipal workers, and so many others—seems evident.”
