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Sean “Diddy” Combs is all about the Benjamins, baby and dropped some serious cash on a timeless Kerry James Marshall painting that was reportedly sold to the mega-star at Sotheby’s for $21.1 million.
The “Past Times” artwork is said to be the highest ever for the work of a living African-American artist, reports Fortune.
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The 13 foot wide sought-after piece simply displays a Black family happily enjoying an afternoon at a lakefront park, which art critics compare to Georges Suerat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte,” depicted instead on the Chicago shore of Lake Michigan.
The record sale comes after a winter 2016 display of Marshall’s work at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, according to Fortune.
The sale of the work may indicate that paintings by African American artists are getting more popular.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama recently unveiled their official presidential portraits at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
Michelle Obama’s portrait was painted by Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald, while Yale painter Kehinde Wiley pulled off his unique interpretation of Barack Obama. Both African-American artists were handpicked by the Obamas.
Combs’ is somewhat of an art connoisseur, having collected pieces by Ai Weiwei and Andy Warhol. The New York Times reports that hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz, who is a collector himself, introduced Combs’ to Marshall’s work.
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Marshall’ work is best known for capturing the life of working class African-Americans. The 63-year-old grew up in Watts, Los Angeles an area known for discrimination and a historic riot that culminated over intense race relations.
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