Photos: Kehinde Wiley’s Official Presidential Portrait Of Barack Obama Unveiled

Last year, it was announced that Barack Obama had selected Nigerian-American painter, Kehinde Wiley to create his official presidential portrait — a tradition that dates all the way back to America’s 41st president, George H. Bush.

After a president’s tenure is over, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery commissions an artist to paint a portrait of the president and the first lady. Michelle Obama went with Baltimore-based painter, Amy Sherald to create her portrait, and both portraits have finally been unveiled.

 

Wiley, who is the first black artist selected for this honour (along with Sherald), is known for creating naturalistic paintings of everyday black men and women in the style of the old masters – replacing the European aristocrats typically depicted in those paintings with contemporary black subjects.

While Wiley’s portrait of Barack, which depicts the former president sitting regally against a backdrop of foliage, is not as eccentric as his typical portraits — Barack reportedly begged him to take it easy with the flourishes — it’s still absolutely stunning.

According to Wiley, the striking backdrop wasn’t random — it was inspired by Barack’s background. The flowers spread across the foliage were the artist’s attempt at “charting [Obama’s] path on earth”.

The African blue lilies represent Kenya, his father’s birthplace; the jasmines represents Hawaii, Barack’s birthplace; the chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago, represent the city where his political career began and where he met Michelle.

Speaking at the unveiling about why he was drawn to Wiley’s work in the first place, Barack said:

“What I was always struck by when I saw his portraits was the degree to which they challenged our ideas of power and privilege.”

As for Michelle Obama’s portrait, Amy Sherald stuck to her memorable style — a grey skin palette highlighted by colourful clothing. Barack thanked her for “capturing the grace and beauty and intelligence and charm and hotness of the woman [he loves]”.

Speaking about the impact the painting will have, Michelle said:

“They will see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the walls of this great American institution. And I know the kind of impact that will have on their lives because I was one of those girls.”