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Screenshot Former U.S. President Barack Obama's official portraitSmithsonian on Twitter
In an article in Culture Type last year, Interior Designer Michael Smith, who had worked with Michelle to redesign the space with their family's comfort in mind, said:
Mrs. Obama often talks about bringing new voices into the national conversation, and that idea informed many of the decisions we made. We selected artists and designers who would never have appeared in the White House before.
That same philosophy was on display here in the Obamas' choice of artists. Known for bringing the work of African American artists into the white house during their tenure there, the former president chose well-known African American portrait artist Kehinde Wiley, a Yale University-trained painter and the former First Lady, chose newcomer, Amy Sherald the National Portrait Gallery's 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition first-prize receipient.
The New York Times noted in a piece that ran in October of 2017 that Wiley and Sherald are among a burgeoning group of artists who are:
'interested in exploring race, gender and identity or in simply correcting the historic lack of nonwhites in Western painting.'
Screenshot former First Lady Michelle Obama's official portraitSmithsonian on Twitter
The former President's portrait being unveiled:
Unveiling President @BarackObama’s portrait by @kehindewileyart. #myNPG #ObamaPortraits https://t.co/0281UasPSt— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518449799.0
“This is our ability to say: I matter. I was here. To be the first African American painter to paint the first Afri… https://t.co/Rwzz8MdYjA— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518451247.0
The former First Lady's portrait reveal:
Revealing Mrs. @MichelleObama’s portrait by Amy Sherald #ObamaPortraits #myNPG https://t.co/gxPdvfnXWZ— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518448818.0
Artist Amy Sherald, who painted @MichelleObama: "Once my paintings are complete the model no longer lives in that p… https://t.co/yGXZVK4nF6— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518449438.0
Barack Obama on his choice of Wiley:
President @BarackObama on @kehindewileyart: “What I was always struck by when I saw his portraits was the degree to… https://t.co/SlHBhmKSMH— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518450274.0
The portraits themselves seemed to receive a lot of mixed reviews online with everyone weighing in on everything from their subjects, to the individual painting styles, use of color, facial expressions, technique, etc. The author of So You Wanna Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo weighed in on Facebook, cautioning folks to take a moment to learn about the artists that were chosen and why before rejecting the pieces wholesale.
The portraits will be available for viewing starting February 13, 2018. Barack's portrait will be hosted in the "America's Presidents" exhibition (permanently) and Michelle's will be featured in the museum's "Recent Acquisitions" corridor (until early November 2018).
“I am in awe of Kehinde’s gifts and what he and Amy have given to this country and the world. We are both very grat… https://t.co/sJ03Zxu6s6— Smithsonian (@Smithsonian) 1518450913.0