Kehinde Wiley's religious art is even in the FOX hit show 'Empire'

THE CREATORS PROJECT
By Becky Chung

Naomi and Her Daughters, Kehinde Wiley, 2013 inspired by an 1804 work by George Dawe

Though we're hesitant to admit we watch it, there's no denying Empire is having a cultural moment. What has truly stood out, however, is the abundance of art in the Lyons’ universe: it’s everywhere. From Brooklyn-based Kehinde Wiley’s majestic oil paintings (Wiley was recently sucked into his own drama) to Vincent van Gogh masterpieces, to a Klimt Cookie deems "ugly," art is its own character in the show. Another Wiley work appears during Cookie's first walkthrough of Lucious' house, or rather the tour of the life he built while she was in prison. The work is also part of the World Stage series. The strong mother pictured is especially symbolic of Cookie's character and her upcoming quest to find her place in the family. [link]

Naomi and her Daughters, George Dawe exhibited 1804. Taken from the Old Testament Book of Ruth, Dawe shows the moment when Naomi, returning to Bethlehem, entreats her daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah to stay in their native city Moab and remarry after the death of her two sons, their husbands.