Kehinde Wiley Asks to Buy Back Painting Removed from US Embassy in Dominican Republic
Kehinde Wiley has shown a desire to reclaim his 2015 painting, "Young Artists After Siamesas 1960," after it was taken down from the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic by the State Department. On September 24, he wrote to President Donald Trump, asking for the opportunity to buy the artwork back. The removal occurred in August due to concerns about the artist's "violent and racist words and depictions," following requests from Trump-aligned officials, including U.S. Ambassador Leah Campos and Erin Scavino, who manages the Art in Embassies program. A State Department representative mentioned that they were discussing the potential sale with legal advisors. Wiley's letter, which was posted by Sean Kelly Gallery on social media, highlighted his strong connection to the piece.
Key facts
- Kehinde Wiley requested to buy back his painting "Young Artists After Siamesas 1960" (2015).
- The US State Department removed the painting from the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic in August.
- Wiley sent a letter to President Donald Trump on September 24 asking to purchase the work.
- The State Department cited the artist's "violent and racist words and depictions" as the reason for removal.
- The removal was made at the behest of Leah Campos, US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, and Erin Scavino, head of the State Department's Art in Embassies program.
- A State Department spokesperson said in August that officials were in discussions with lawyers to "ascertain whether the art can be sold."
- Sean Kelly Gallery, which has represented Wiley since 2010, shared the letter on social media earlier this week.
- Wiley stated he spent two years studying Dominican artists and worked with young artists in Santo Domingo to create the painting.
Entities
Artists
- Kehinde Wiley
- Donald Trump
- Barack Obama
- Gilberto Hernández Ortega
- Celeste Woss y Gil
- Henry Taylor
- Leah Campos
Institutions
- US State Department
- United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic
- Art in Embassies
- Sean Kelly Gallery
- Hyperallergic
- Ocula
- U.S. Department of State
- Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
- Musée Picasso-Paris
- The Guardian
- The New York Times
- State Department
- The Apprentice
- White House
- Smithsonian
- Kennedy Centre
- Artlyst
- US Embassy in the Dominican Republic
- New York Times
- Obama Presidential Center
Locations
- Dominican Republic
- Santo Domingo
- United States
- Washington
- Paris
- France
- Manhattan
- New York
- Chicago