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The VMFA did an exhibit of his paintings back in 2016, and he was apparently taken with nearby Monument Avenue, which still has several statues of various Confederate officers. As a reminder, Wiley was the artist chosen to do the presidential portrait for Barack Obama.
Wiley's sculpture, which has not yet been unveiled, is described as:
- Mounted on a stone pedestal, “Rumors of War” depicts a young African American in urban streetwear, sitting astride a horse in a striking pose.
Wiley's work often centers on recontextualizing minorities using symbols traditionally associated with power in Western culture, such as being on horseback. This new statue is apparently inspired by the equestrian statue of JEB Stewart that's a couple miles down Monument from the museum.
Local racists are, of course, quite triggered and/or butthurt by the whole thing.