Kehinde Wiley

An Economy of Grace

Known for his vibrant reinterpretations of classical portraits featuring African-American men, New York-based painter Kehinde Wiley has turned the practice of portraiture on its head and in the process has taken the art world by storm. The film Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace follows the artist as he embarks on an exciting new project: a series of classical portraits of African-American women--something he's never done before. The film documents the project as it unfolds, tracking Wiley's process from concept to canvas, casting his models on the streets of New York and enlisting Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy to create couture gowns for each woman. The film offers a tantalizing look at the intersection of art and fashion and an intimate portrait of one of this generation's most intriguing and accomplished visionaries.