Kehinde Wiley exhibitions halted after sexual assault allegations

Editor's Note: The following story contains mentions of sexual assault and harassment. To reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org.

Two museums have canceled or postponed iterations of a traveling exhibition dedicated to American painter Kehinde Wiley following accusations of sexual assault against the artist.

A spokesperson for the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) said Hyperallergic that she was “considering taking the Kehinde Wiley exhibit, but due to these unfortunate allegations, we will not be proceeding with that presentation.” A representative for the Joslyn Art Museum in Nebraska, where the exhibition was scheduled to debut in September, said the institution was reviewing its exhibition schedule. “Kehinde Wiley: Omaha will not be presented in 2024,” confirmed the spokesperson. “The Joslyn will announce any updates at a later date.”

News of the scheduling changes, first reported by Art news and the Free press in still water, follow at least four allegations of sexual misconduct that have all been made against the prominent artist in less than a month. Wiley strongly denied the claims, calling them “baseless and defamatory.”

“It is disappointing that this social media-based fabrication distracts from the purpose of the tour: to shed light on the inequalities that Black and Brown people face in our society,” Wiley said. Hyperallergic in a report. “These allegations are completely false, raising more questions about their credibility and motivation than facts supporting their authenticity. »

In an Instagram post last month, artist Joseph Awuah-Darko accused Wiley of assaulting him twice during an event in Ghana in 2021. Just two weeks later, activist Derrick Ingram featured his own allegations of sexual violence, posting on Instagram that Wiley had “raped (unprotected) and sexually assaulted” him in his Soho apartment in September 2021 during a relationship of approximately four months. Ingram alleged that Wiley asked him to sign a nondisclosure agreement, a claim Wiley denies.

In addition to these accusations, British artist Nathaniel Lloyd Richards accused Wiley of “aggressive and violent” touching and groping during a date in 2019. In a signed statement shared with HyperallergicRichards wrote that Wiley's behavior made him feel “unsafe” and ultimately led him to leave the date early.

Yesterday, photographer Terrell Armistead became the fourth individual to accuse Wiley of assault, claiming on Instagram that he was “groped and sexually assaulted” by the painter in 2010 in his apartment after meeting at the Secret Lounge bar, since closed, on West 29th Street. Armistead alleges he fell asleep at the residence and woke up to Wiley performing oral sex on him.

Wiley has denied all of these claims. In response to Armistead's latest allegations, Wiley's attorney, Jennifer Barrett, said Wiley “does not know who this latest accuser is.” She also sent Hyperallergic photos of the two dogs Armistead mentions seeing at Wiley's home in 2010, noting that Wiley didn't adopt the first dog until 2015.

“Unfortunately, this appears to be another example of someone who was manipulated into joining the slanderous campaign orchestrated by Mr. Awuah-Darko, who harassed Mr. Wiley's friends and colleagues in a desperate attempt to obtain information to support his vendetta. and build his false case,” Barrett said.

On Instagram, Wiley posted screenshots of social media messages and exchanges with Awuah-Darko and Ingram in the months following the alleged incidents.

An online petition started by Awuah-Darko urging galleries representing Wiley to look into the allegations has nearly reached its goal of 1,000 signatures. “We must empower those who have suffered in silence and create a safe space for victims to come forward,” Awuah-Darko wrote in the petition text.