Barack and Michelle Obama have officially selected the artists who will be painting their formal portraits for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery — and their choices are both exciting and historical.
Kehinde Wiley, an artist known for his vibrant portraits of black men and women, has been commissioned to paint the former President's portrait, while Amy Sherald, whose work is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art and Culture, will be painting the former First Lady. In addition to these paintings, The White House will also be commissioning their own portraits of the Obamas.
But the selection of Wiley and Sherald by the Obamas carries another important legacy — one that goes beyond art itself. These two painters will become the first black artists to officially paint a presidential couple. In a statement, Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, explained: "The Portrait Gallery is absolutely delighted that Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald have agreed to create the official portraits of our former President and First Lady. Both have achieved enormous success as artists, but even more, they make art that reflects the power and potential of portraiture in the 21st century." We definitely cannot wait to see the paintings of the Obamas; they're sure to make us miss them even more.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the White House will be commissioning their own portraits in addition to the National Portrait Gallery.
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