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Kehinde Wiley And Amy Sherald Make History With Their Portraits Of Barack And Michelle Obama

This article is more than 6 years old.

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery unveiled the portraits of President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, whom they commissioned before they left the White House. The couple pulled of the black fabric that covered the portraits in front of an audience that included Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, who are patrons of the portraits, Gayle King and Tom Hanks.

Wiley and Sherald are the first black artists to paint portraits for the National Portrait Gallery’s presidential and First Lady portrait commissions, which began in 1994, with Ronald N. Sherr’s portrait of President George H.W. Bush, and in 1998 with Aaron Shickler’s portrait of Hillary Clinton. This is separate from the official portraits commissioned for the White House, where Summit Knox was the first black artist to paint an official presidential portrait for Bill Clinton.

The Baltimore-based Amy Sherald and Mrs. Obama went first, taking down the fabric to show a stunning portrait of the former first lady in the artist's signature grayscale before a light blue background. Mrs. Obama wore a gown by Milly that featured a geometric print. “It reminded me of the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian’s geometric paintings,” said Sherald. “But Milly’s dress also reminds me of the quilt masterpieces made by the women of Gee’s Bend, a small black community in Alabama.”

Mrs. Obama gave remarks after her portrait was unveiled, remarking on the impact that it would have on women of color.

“I’m also thinking about all the young people, particularly girls, and girls of color, who in years ahead will come to this place…and they will see an image of someone who looks like them, hanging on the wall of this great American institution,” said Mrs. Obama. “I know what kind of impact that will have on their lives, because I was one of those girls, and when I think about those future generations, and generations past, I think again, wow, what an incredible journey we are on, together in this country. We have come so far, and yes…we still have a lot of work to do.”

As she closed her speech, Mrs. Obama remarked on Sherald’s tenacity. The artist was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004, undergoing a heart transplant in 2012. Sherald continued to make art while she recovered. “She is obviously a woman of extraordinary talent, and it is thrilling to see her getting the recognition she deserves…,” said Mrs. Obama. “But even more important Amy is a woman of extraordinary character and strength.”

Wiley and President Obama followed, and the audience gasped as they revealed an image of President Obama sitting on a wood chair dressed in a black suit with a white collared shirt under, with a wall of foliage behind him that also served as a narrative of the president. Wiley included chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago, African blue lilies from Kenya, the birthplace of his father, as well as jasmine from President Obama’s native Hawaii.

President Obama remarked on his commonalities with Wiley, particularly the fact that they were both raised by single American mothers, and they both had fathers from Africa. President Obama also noted that it was his first time sitting for a portrait. “The whole poster by Shep was cool, but I didn’t sit for it,” quipped Obama.

At the end of the program, Wiley gave a touching tribute to his mother after initially forgetting to thank her. “I was so in the zone, talk about not recognizing the real source of the light, my mother Freddie Mae Wiley,” said Wiley. “We didn’t have much, but she found a way to get me paint, and the ability to be able to picture something bigger than South Central L.A. where we were living. You saw it. You did it. Thank you."