Barack, Michelle Obama unveil official portrait by artist Njideka Crosby / BARACK OBAMA
Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby has been commissioned to create the official portrait of former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
The portrait, unveiled this week, is among a series of artworks being produced for the centre ahead of its opening on Juneteenth.
The piece will be displayed prominently in the Hope and Change lobby, where visitors will encounter it as part of the centre;s permanent collection.
Announcing the unveiling, Barack Obama praised the artist's work and reflected on the significance of the portrait.
“It was great joining Njideka Akunyili Crosby, a gifted Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based artist to unveil our first portrait together. This piece reflects so many chapters of Michelle and my story, and we're thrilled that it will be on display in the Hope and Change lobby at the Obama Presidential Center starting this Juneteenth,” Obama said.
Michelle Obama also expressed admiration for the artist's interpretation of the couple, describing the work as a vibrant and joyful representation of their lives.
“Barack and I were so honoured to have Njideka Akunyili Crosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too,” she said.
The commission marks another milestone in the career of Akunyili Crosby, one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of her generation.
Born in Nigeria and based in Los Angeles, she is renowned for creating richly layered works that blend painting, drawing, collage and photographic transfer techniques.
Her art often explores themes of identity, migration and cultural belonging, drawing from experiences that bridge her Nigerian heritage and life in the United States.
Using family photographs, self-taken images from Nigeria and clippings from Nigerian magazines, she creates intricate visual narratives that examine the complexities of living between two cultures.
Akunyili Crosby's work is held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Over the years, she has exhibited at leading institutions across the United States and Europe and participated in major global exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale and the Istanbul Biennial.
Her growing international acclaim was further cemented in 2017 when she received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the "Genius Grant." The award recognised her innovative artistic practice and contribution to contemporary art.
The artist was announced earlier this year as one of several creatives commissioned by the Obama Foundation to produce site-specific works for the Obama Presidential Center, which is scheduled to open on June 19.
The unveiling of the portrait places Akunyili Crosby among a distinguished group of artists selected to help shape the visual and cultural legacy of America's first Black president and first lady.
As visitors begin touring the Obama Presidential Center, the portrait is expected to serve as both an artistic landmark and a reflection of the personal journey of Barack and Michelle Obama, captured through the lens of one of contemporary art's most acclaimed Nigerian-born talents.
