Kehinde Wiley Exhibitions Halted After Sexual Assault Allegations


Editor’s Word: The next story accommodates mentions of sexual assault and harassment. To succeed in the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline, name 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to on-line.rainn.org.

Two museums have nixed or postponed their iterations of a touring exhibition devoted to American painter Kehinde Wiley within the wake of accusations of sexual assault towards the artist.

A Minneapolis Institute of Artwork (Mia) spokesperson informed Hyperallergic that it was “contemplating taking the Kehinde Wiley exhibition, however because of these unlucky allegations we is not going to be continuing with this presentation.” A consultant for Nebraska’s Joslyn Artwork Museum, the place the present was scheduled to debut in September, stated the establishment is revisiting its exhibition schedule. “Kehinde Wiley: Omaha is not going to be introduced in 2024,” the spokesperson confirmed. “The Joslyn will announce any updates at a later date.”

The information of the adjustments in programming, first reported by Artnews and the Flatwater Free Press, comply with at the least 4 allegations of sexual misconduct which have all been introduced towards the distinguished artist in lower than a month. Wiley has fervently denied the claims, calling them “baseless and defamatory.”

“It’s disappointing that this social media-driven fabrication is distracting from the purpose of the tour: shedding gentle on the inequities Black and Brown folks face in our society,” Wiley informed Hyperallergic in a press release. “These allegations are utterly false, elevating extra questions on their credibility and motivation than there are details supporting their authenticity.”

In an Instagram publish final month, artist Joseph Awuah-Darko accused Wiley of assaulting him twice throughout an occasion in Ghana in 2021. Barely two weeks later, activist Derrick Ingram got here ahead together with his personal allegations of sexual violence, posting on Instagram that Wiley had “raped [unprotected] and sexually assaulted” him at his Soho house in September 2021 throughout an roughly four-month relationship. Ingram alleged that Wiley requested him to signal a non-disclosure settlement, a declare Wiley denies.

On high of those accusations, United Kingdom-based artist Nathaniel Lloyd Richards accused Wiley of “aggressive and forceful” touching and groping throughout a 2019 date. In a signed assertion shared with Hyperallergic, Richards wrote that Wiley’s habits made him really feel “unsafe” and in the end led him to depart the date early.

Yesterday, photographer Terrell Armistead grew to become the fourth particular person to accuse Wiley of assault, claiming on Instagram that he was “groped and sexually assaulted” by the painter in 2010 at his house after assembly on the since-closed bar Secret Lounge on West twenty ninth Avenue. Armistead alleges that he fell asleep on the residence and woke as much as Wiley performing oral intercourse on him.

Wiley has denied all of the claims. In response to the most recent allegations from Armistead, Wiley’s legal professional Jennifer Barrett stated Wiley “doesn’t know who this newest accuser is.” She additionally despatched Hyperallergic images of the 2 canines that Armistead mentions seeing at Wiley’s home in 2010, noting that Wiley didn’t undertake the primary canine till 2015.

“Sadly, this seems to be one other instance of an individual who has been manipulated into becoming a member of the scurrilous marketing campaign orchestrated by Mr. Awuah-Darko, who has been harassing Mr. Wiley’s buddies and colleagues in a determined try and get info to assist his vendetta and construct his pretend case,” Barrett stated.

On Instagram, Wiley has posted screenshots of messages and social media exchanges with each Awuah-Darko and Ingram within the months after the alleged incidents.

An internet petition began by Awuah-Darko urging Wiley’s representing galleries to look into the claims has practically reached its 1,000-signature purpose. “We should empower those that have suffered in silence and create a protected area for victims to come back ahead,” Awuah-Darko writes within the petition textual content.



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