Barack and Michelle Obama the first family of the 44th United States Presidency, assisted in the unveiling of their official President and First Lady portraits for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on Monday February 12th. With President and Mrs. Obama, being the first African Heritage American occupants of the White House within itself makes for quite the noteworthy Black History Month moment. Taking note that African Heritage American artists created the Obamas’ portraits, another first in American History, adds even more transformative cultural relevance to the moment. Michelle Obama’s portrait was rendered by Amy Sherald, while Barack Obama’s portrait was painted by Kehinde Wiley.
More Resources Regarding Portrait
ABC: The View. (2018). Obama Portraits Draw Mixed Reactions. You Tube.
CBS: CBS Moring News. (2018). Obama portraits make history and challenge norms. You Tube.
Chakraborty, B. (2018). Michelle Obama portrait faces brutal mockery, some praise after unveiling. Fox News.
CNN. (2018). Obama’s official portraitists on their daunting task. You Tube.
Cotter, H. (2018). Obama Portraits Blend Paint and Politics, and Fact and Fiction. The New York Times.
Deb, S. (2018). The Obama Portraits Drew a Strong Reaction. What Did They Mean to You? The New York Times.
Mazza, E. (2018). Sean Hannity Tweets, Then Deletes, Weirdly Specific Sexual Stuff About Obama Portrait. HuffPost.
Nayeri, F. (2017). Kehinde Wiley on Painting the Powerless. And a President. The New York Times.
Pogrebin, R. (2017). After a Late Start, an Artist’s Big Break: Michelle Obama’s Official Portrait. The New York Times.
Pogrebin, R. (2018). Obama Portrait Artists Merged the Everyday and the Extraordinary. The New York Times.
Smith, R. (2017). Why the Obamas’ Portrait Choices Matter. The New York Times.