Michael Jackson Portrait

Kehinde Wiley’s monumental commissioned portrait of Michael Jackson is being unveiled this week at Deitch Projects (F1). The 32-year-old US painter was contacted by Jackson in 2008 after the performer saw the artist’s work at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. “I was receiving messages saying Michael Jackson wants to reach you…and I ignored them because quite honestly I thought it was a prank,” said Wiley. After a friend verified the request, Wiley set up a conference call with the performer, which he taped and transcribed. According to the artist: “He was also very  . . . . . .READ ON.