I chose Dala Floda by Commercial Type as the title treatment due to its presentation of traditional letterforms in a modern style. Dala Floda is rooted in the typefaces of the Renaissance, but with the modern twist of stencil, and mirrors what Wiley sets out to achieve in his portraits. Cyan is used as the main color of the materials, drawing from the florals in the background of Wiley’s Saint John the Baptist.

When representing the artist’s name, I leaned into layering it with the intricate and highly stylized floral backgrounds of his portraits. In this way, the subject is brought forward and in some cases even obscures the title, building visual depth and intertwining Wiley’s name in his work.

Credits

Catharina Manchanda, Curator
Chris Manojlovic, Director of Exhibition Design
Cindy McKinley, Lead Project Manager
Nina Mettler, Design Manager

Primary image

Kehinde Wiley. Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, 2013, American, b. 1977, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in. Colección Saorín & Sobrino. © Kehinde Wiley. Photo: Stephen White, Courtesy of Stephen Friedman Gallery.

Typeset in Dala Floda by Commercial Type and Gotham by Hoefler&Co.