Michael Jackson eyeing famous painter's work

Washington (ANI): It seems that pop singer Michael Jackson is now craving to be called an art mogul, for he has evinced interest in buying artwork created by acclaimed New York painter Kehinde Wiley. Wiley is famous for his portraits of urban black men in classic Renaissance scenes, and his clientele comprises famous celebrities like Denzel Washington and Sir Elton John. The artist has revealed that he initially thought that Jackson's offer was a hoax.

However, when the singer's representatives contacted one of his friends, he realised the truthfulness of the offer. "Michael Jackson is calling me. We're discussing exactly what it will involve. He saw my work at the Brooklyn Museum and was taken with it, so he had his people contact me," Contactmusic quoted him as saying. "I thought it was a joke at first, so I ignored it for the longest time. Then he contacted a friend of mine who's an actor, so I knew it was for real," he added.