Barack and Michelle Obama have officially unveiled their first joint official portrait, painted by acclaimed Nigerian-born visual artist Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, daughter of the late Dora Akunyili. The artwork will be prominently displayed at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Portrait Reveal at Private Gathering
The Obamas viewed the newly completed work during a private gathering at the museum's Hope and Change Lobby on June 15. Former First Lady Michelle Obama, who had expressed a strong desire for Akunyili-Crosby to create a piece for them, shared her deep admiration for the honor.
The portrait is one of 28 original art commissions featured on the museum's campus. In the painting, both Obamas are seated, with Barack leaning casually on a desk while Michelle sits in the foreground with crossed legs.
Artistic Vision and Details
Akunyili-Crosby deliberately portrayed the Obamas "significantly bigger than life-size" and chose a landscape orientation, which left her with "a lot of interior space to invent." She surrounded them with meaningful objects from their pasts, including a volume of the Harvard Law Review from Barack's tenure as its first Black president and a copy of Stevie Wonder's Talking Book, the first album Michelle ever owned.
Michelle Obama shared a video of the couple viewing the portrait on Instagram, writing: "Barack and I were so honored to have @NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too!"
