Kehinde Wiley & Richard Deacon Docs to World Premiere at Canada’s RAFF

The world premiere of Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace is to kick off the 2014 Reel Artists Film Festival in Toronto in February—with the artist in attendance. The film is directed by Jeff Dupre, producer of Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present, and traces the steps of this famed American artist leading up to his first exhibition of female portraits, which had fashion house Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci as a collaborator.

Wiley, who is renowned for works in which today’s people of colour are represented via historical European painting styles, will be in attendance at RAFF’s Opening Night Screening and Celebration on February 19 at TIFF Bell Lightbox and will be discussing the film and his work following the screening.

RAFF—produced by the Canadian Art Foundation, publisher of Canadian Art—is North America’s sole film festival focusing on documentaries about contemporary art and artists. It presents a selection of international feature-length and short documentaries that address challenges and questions raised by artists both in front of and behind the camera. Through these films, subjects are revealed, experimental processes unfold, and events are staged, creating an accessible point of entry for general audiences to consider the key personalities and philosophies behind contemporary art.

Other 2014 festival selections screening from February 20 to 23 include the world premiere of Richard Deacon: In Between, with the Turner Prize–winning British sculptor in attendance. Viewings of Nan Goldin: I Remember Your Face and BackBone:Vancouver Experimental Cinema 1967–1981 are also on the program, along with 15 other films. Stimulating conversations with directors, artists and other experts follow several of the screenings.

RAFF 2014 takes place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, one of the world’s top venues for film and film-based art practices.

Tickets for our Opening Night Screening and Celebration with Kehinde Wiley: The Economy of Grace will be available starting on January 15. The rest of the festival-program details will be posted on January 23, including links to purchase tickets and festival packages.