Diddy Drops $21.1 Million On A Painting By Kerry James Marshall

Just in case you needed a reminder, #Diddy is THAT guy!! He just made history by purchasing what is believed to be the most expensive art piece created by a living African-American artist. The music mogul has been revealed as the buyer for a piece called ‘Past Times’ by #KerryJamesMarshall which depicts black people enjoying a Park day in Chicago. 

Back in 1998, Marshall explained the inspiration behind his work. “Style is such an integral part of what black people do that just walking is not a simple thing. You’ve got to walk with style. You’ve got to talk with a certain rhythm; you’ve got to do things with some flair,” he added: “I try to enact that same tendency toward the theatrical that seems to be so integral a part of the black cultural body.”

Diddy reportedly dropped about $21.1 million on the painting last Wednesday at a Sotheby’s auction in NYC. The Bad Boy Records CEO was put onto Marshall’s work by superstar producer Swizz Beatz. 

Take a look at the painting below: 

“Past Times” After completing the Garden Project series, Marshall painted “Past Times,” which moves into the shared public space of the city. High-rise towers appear in the distance, but the focal point is an urban pastoral scene, filled with green grass and blue water. The African American figures—all dressed in white—are engaged in various forms of recreation. The painting depicts leisurely pastimes, but the title points to the past. In this respect, the perfect scene might suggest a history that hasn’t happened yet or desire come to life. The family in the foreground stares back at the viewer as if just interrupted. The songs on their radios suggest two divergent outlooks: a runaway imagination and a reality check—“got my money on my mind.” Learn more: http://bit.ly/1T7DDRn All images and details: Kerry James Marshall “Past Times,” 1997 Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, McCormick Place Art Collection Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago

A post shared by kerry James Marshall (@kerryjamesmarsh) on Aug 20, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT