Barack Obama’s portrait may have been made in China

Was the presidential portrait of Barack Obama^[1] made in China?

Sources say artist Kehinde Wiley — who painted the former president before a background of greenery and flowers — has studios in China and produces most of his work there.

“It’s his base of operation,” said art critic Charlie Finch, who has known Wiley and appreciated his talent since they were students at Yale. “He has dozens of assistants working for him.”

While Obama sat for Wiley for several hours, the portrait may have been sent to China to be completed.

“Normally, Wiley sketches out the important parts, and assistants fill out the rest,” Finch told me.

Wiley often paints his subjects in front of flamboyantly colorful backgrounds. The Obama portrait is more conservative.

Wiley did not return requests for comment.