Kehinde Wiley Designs New MTV Moon Person Trophy

American artist Kehinde Wiley has designed a new take on the iconic MTV Moon Person Trophy, like Rolling stone points out. The updated statuette was created as part of MTV’s 40th anniversary celebration. Wiley’s lunar person is adorned with flowers and green vines and “represents inclusiveness and diversity marked by the historical, environmental and natural relevance of plants,” as MTV put it. RS. Winners will receive the updated trophy at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.

Of Moon Person’s new design, MTV added:

Each intertwined vine or leaf has a different historical relevance, like the seeds of African slaves, which are woven into American tapestry. The sculpture complements Wiley’s upcoming portrait series, in which he plans to create paintings featuring his subjects lying on their side as vines encircle their bodies.

In 2018, Wiley unveiled his presidential portrait of Barack Obama. Obama chose Wiley to create the painting, which is now in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Wiley’s paintings are world famous and have included renderings from Notorious BIG, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Ice T, and more.

The 2021 MTV VMAs are scheduled for September 12 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The show will take place in front of a live audience.