Michael Jackson: King of Art Basel

Last year it was a portrait of then President-elect Obama that was the main focus of Dietch's project Art Basel booth. This year it's the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Painted by Kehinde Wiley, who's work usually puts hip-hop youth in the context of classical Royal portraiture, the piece was...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

December 2, 2009

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Last year it was a portrait of then President-elect Obama that was the main focus of Dietch's project Art Basel booth. This year it's the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Painted by Kehinde Wiley, who's work usually puts hip-hop youth in the context of classical Royal portraiture, the piece was actually commissioned by Jackson himself. Unfortunately Jackson died before he could give his input, but Wiley finished it anyway. It's being displayed for the first time at Basel.

Of course, it wasn't the only Michael Jackson piece at the fair. Yvon Lambert also presented two works, Gold Bubbles and Silver Bubbles, by artist Jonathan Monk. (That picture is after the jump.) Plus we wouldn't be too surprised if we saw more Jackson-inspired artwork at the satellite fairs.

We'll have the rest of our initial perception of Basel up in the morning. We're understandably exhausted at the moment.

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