Artist Reimagines Contemporary Celebrities in Classical French Paintings

Christopher Walken

Classical art resurfaces in our modern lives as an artist puts a new spin on it. After the internet’s infatuation with classical paintings turned into memes, we’re confident you’ll be fascinated by this artist’s work.

Kyès is skilled in reinterpreting contemporary celebrities as if they lived in the French 17th-18th century style of painting. Initially, he depicted French rappers, but he has since expanded to include other celebrities. Although created digitally, the paintings convincingly resemble genuine historical works of art.

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Rihanna

Kyès debuted his initial collaborative digital artwork featuring Charles Baudelaire, a French poet depicted as a joker. Initially, the artist seemed to prioritize French public figures; however, as time progressed, they expanded their repertoire to include other prominent personalities such as Kanye West, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and others.

Lil Nas X

Kyès utilizes Photoshop to transform classical paintings into contemporary works featuring current celebrities, evoking nostalgia for traditional art. Typically, Kyès employs paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, representing the High Renaissance, Rococo, or Neoclassical styles.

Miley Cyrus

Renaissance artwork is typically dated between 1300 and 1600. Following this period, it is categorized as High Renaissance. The contrast between the two is that, whereas earlier Renaissance artists would accentuate a piece’s perspective or technical components, High Renaissance artists were inclined to relinquish technical principles in favor of creating a more aesthetically pleasing, unified entity.

Scarlett Johansson