Some nice hi-res images of selected works from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s exhibit titled RECOGNIZE! Hip-Hop and Contemporary Portraiture. The resized pic above is by Kehinde Wiley, oil on canvas, and was used for the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors Awards marketing campaign last year. The exhibit is scheduled for February 8 through October 26, 2008. Link
update: smithsonian politely asked us to take down the links
I am from at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery External Affairs department. We saw that you have posted high-res images of objects from the exhibition “RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture.” These images are copyright restricted by the artist and/or owner. We ask that you please remove these high-res images and only post low-res images. Using high-res images without permission from the artist and/or owner jeopardizes the National Portrait Gallery’s relationship with future artists and/or owners. Thank you for publicizing our exhibition. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this.
Dilated Peoples, DJ Babu, Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
Erykah Badu, Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
By Kehinde Wiley
Oil on canvas, 2005
Collection Glenn Fuhrman, New York; © Kehinde Wiley
Ice T
By Kehinde Wiley
Oil on canvas, 2005
Private Collection, courtesy Rhona Hoffman Gallery; © Kehinde Wiley
Jean Grae, Coachella, Indio, CA
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
Jurassic 5, Akil, Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
KRS One, Paramount, Santa Fe, NM
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
LL Cool J
By Kehinde Wiley
Oil on canvas, 2005
LL Cool J; © Kehinde Wiley
Mule
By Jefferson Pinder
8 mm film transferred to digital video, 2006
Jefferson Pinder, courtesy of G Fine Art; © Jefferson Pinder
Recognize! mural
By Tim Conlon and Dave Hupp
Montana spray paint on Sintra panel, 2007
Tim Conlon and Dave Hupp; photograph by Mark Gulezian
The Pharcyde, Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
By David Scheinbaum
Gelatin silver print, 2002
David Scheinbaum; © David Scheinbaum
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These are fantastic, G. Thanks for sharing. You made Nah Right Lite too, congrats.
i saw kehinde wiley’s work at the portland art museum, shit was dope, basically the idea behind his art is that they are copies of classical art masterpieces, however, instead of white dudes with wigs on, he puts in black dudes in “street” or “gangsta” clothing in order to insert black people into history, instead of completely ignoring them
The Smithsonian press flak just told me I couldn’t have any pictures unless it was for print because somebody was already “leaking them to the web.”
I’m trying to get an official statement on why that is. I would personally respect the artists if it came from them but if it’s the Smithsonian, hey, that’s our heritage they won’t let us have!
Know what I mean?
Just talked to somebody from the Smithsonian that said they got caught by surprise with this. I didn’t mention this site by name but I described what you posted and she so appreciated that you included all the info.
I’m going to break it down at ProHipHop but apparently they hadn’t had a show that bloggers were that interested in so they’re kind of new at handling this.
Hip hop in the forefront again! Or bloggers anyway.
I wonder if they think print is more beneficial? Or maybe they’re trying to limit the amount of exposure?
No wonder they never responded to my inquiries.
We can just tell them we print our posts and read them on the train on the way home!
digital > print
…or maybe we can just ask Kehinde Wiley himself? I kind of think he won’t mind since he already has so much of his portfolio available for viewing online: kehindewiley.com
In addition, anyone who is serious about viewing the pieces will know that these images do not compare to the actual thing. Right? Am I twisted?
I hear you. Apparently some of the artist agreements specify hi-res for print only. But they want the photos out and I’m going to post low res versions and they said I could offer them for others to use.
They were actually surprised that people wanted to post the hi res images online cause that hasn’t happened with previous shows. But they’re digging the blogger attention and they’re happy to see the word getting out.
It’s a new world and folks are still catching up but I had a very positive call and I got no pr runaround or any of that.
I’d normally link to you on this but since you never know if it’s going to get weird, just hit me up some time when you want some publicity for something I wouldn’t normally cover.