Born in Los Angeles, California, Kehinde Wiley studied at the San Francisco Art Institute before earning his MFA from the Yale School of Art. His breakthrough came through his signature practice of recontextualizing historical portraiture, placing contemporary Black subjects in poses and settings traditionally reserved for European nobility and religious figures.

Wiley works primarily in oil on canvas, often incorporating intricate, decorative floral backgrounds that contrast with the realistic rendering of his sitters. His practice challenges the historical absence of Black figures in Western art history by elevating his subjects to the status of historical icons.

His work is held in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. He continues to be recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between classical art traditions and contemporary identity politics.