The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) has canceled its planned exhibition of Kehinde Wiley's work following sexual assault allegations against the artist. Similarly, the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, has postponed its Wiley show.
The traveling exhibition, "An Archaeology of Silence," opened at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in March 2023, then moved to the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, and was scheduled for the Pérez Art Museum Miami and Mia in 2024. Both Mia and the Pérez Art Museum Miami have suspended the exhibition due to the allegations.
Wiley, known for his portrait of former President Barack Obama, faces accusations from several men, including artist Joseph Awuah-Darko and activist Derrick Ingram, who plan a class-action lawsuit in New York. Wiley denies the claims, calling them "baseless and defamatory."
The Joslyn Art Museum had planned to debut a new series of Wiley's portraits in September 2024, coinciding with its reopening after renovations. This show has also been delayed, and the museum is reassessing its exhibition schedule.
These events highlight the difficulties institutions face in responding to allegations against high-profile figures, balancing due process, public opinion, and their missions.
Selena Mattei