Diddy Bought a Painting for $21 Million

Early this week, Diddy shelled out $21 million at a Sotheby’s auction for a Kerry James Marshall painting titled "Past Times".

It's the highest price ever paid for an artwork by a living African-American artist.

Diddy was introduced to Marshall -- who's work focuses on the lives of black Americans -- by Swizz Beatz.

Marshall's gallerist Jack Shainman congratulated Diddy on the purchase.

Congratulations Kerry James Marshall for continuing to make history. And congratulations @diddy for an amazing acquisition, we are excited about your plans for the future of the painting. https://t.co/xD8VxvqWzz

— Jack Shainman (@JackShainman) May 18, 2018

What do you think of the painting?

“Past Times” After completing the Garden Project series, Marshall painted “Past Times,” which moves into the shared public space of the city. High-rise towers appear in the distance, but the focal point is an urban pastoral scene, filled with green grass and blue water. The African American figures—all dressed in white—are engaged in various forms of recreation. The painting depicts leisurely pastimes, but the title points to the past. In this respect, the perfect scene might suggest a history that hasn’t happened yet or desire come to life. The family in the foreground stares back at the viewer as if just interrupted. The songs on their radios suggest two divergent outlooks: a runaway imagination and a reality check—“got my money on my mind.” Learn more: http://bit.ly/1T7DDRn All images and details: Kerry James Marshall “Past Times,” 1997 Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, McCormick Place Art Collection Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago

A post shared by  kerry James Marshall (@kerryjamesmarsh) on Aug 20, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT

We wonder if Puff used the money he had been planning to spend on being part of the group to buy the Carolina Panthers on the artwork.