Morpheus Deck of Cards

This limited edition deck of cards features Kehinde Wiley’s 2008 painting Morpheus, reimagined from the Jean-Antoine Houdon 1777 marble sculpture of the same name. Featured in the 2008 exhibition “Down” at Deitch Projects, the series references and re-conceptualizes classic pictorial forms of heroism in the face of death. Morpheus features a model from Brooklyn, lain across a white sheet while florals from the background spring into life around his body. Unlike its 18th century counterpart, he addresses onlookers with direct eye contact and a seductive look of invitation, with the repeating floral background protruding into the foreground.

52 playing cards.

Net proceeds from your purchase support the artist in residence program Black Rock Sénégal, founded by Wiley in 2019.