Obama's official portrait was officially unveiled — see other incredible pieces from the one-of-a-kind artist who painted it

For artist Kehinde Wiley, being commissioned to paint former President Barack Obama's official portrait was an opportunity to make a lasting impact on people around the world.

"The reality of Barack Obama being the president of the United States — quite possibly the most powerful nation in the world — means that the image of power is completely new for an entire generation of not only black American kids, but every population group in this nation," Wiley told BBC in 2008.

His incredible portrait of the former president, unveiled in Washington, DC on Monday, will hang alongside other presidential paintings in the National Portrait Gallery. He and Amy Sherald, who painted a portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama, are the first African-Americans in history to be commissioned to paint a presidential couple.

But well before he was selected to paint Obama, Wiley was recognized as a master of his craft worldwide, and his works have fetched as much as $143,000 at auctions. His art has also been featured in the Fox TV show, "Empire."

Here's a look at his eye-catching and original body of work:

Wiley's dramatic portrait of Obama sitting in a colorful green garden is in keeping with the artist's long tradition of presenting everyday black figures in elevated, empowering positions.

A common theme throughout Wiley's work, which he started to pursue as a boy in his native Los Angeles, has been portraying young African and African-American men in poses traditionally reserved for European nobility.

Kehinde Wiley "A New Republ... @ kehindewiley

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Many of his paintings draw on French Rococo, Baroque, and other royal portraiture styles.

Wily often recreates paintings by the European Old Masters, but replaces the central figures with young black men.

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Wiley's most famous painting is "Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps," which directly references one of the most famous portraits of Napoleon. In his version, a black man wearing Timberland boots replaces the French emperor.

Wiley is known travel the world to gain inspiration for his work and to find subjects to paint. Among his many stops, he has visited Morocco, Brazil, China, India, and Haiti to look for people on the street to serve as models for his work.

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He has even dabbled in stained glass art, producing stunning images of the black experience that are chock-full of religious imagery.

Wiley has also painted famous black musicians in the same style. Here, Michael Jackson is depicted as a divine European monarch.

In other instances, Wiley focused less on the background, and more on the musician in question. Here, LL Cool J is shown sitting in dignified repose.

Even before his commission to paint Obama, Wiley was a name to reckoned with in the modern art world.

But with his newfound fame as a presidential portrait artist, Wiley's star will only continue to rise.

The artist behind Barack obama's portrait

Obama's official portrait was officially unveiled — see other incredible pieces from the one-of-a-kind artist who painted it

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