Black Light is an early monograph on Kehinde Wiley, the acclaimed artist best known for painting President Obama’s official portrait. This book showcases his signature style: grand, vibrant portraits of young Black and Brown men dressed in contemporary streetwear, posed in the manner of historical European portraiture.

Wiley reclaims and redefines traditional art by placing marginalized subjects often excluded from Western art history into positions of power and prestige. His work challenges conventions of masculinity, race, and representation, blending old-world aesthetics with modern identity. Through this visual juxtaposition, he creates bold, provocative images that confront socio-political narratives and elevate everyday individuals to heroic scale.