National Portrait Gallery Photo Op of Obama Portraits ... back >
Feb. 13, 2018 - The Smithonian's National Portrait Gallery held a media photo op of the museum's official portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama.  The portraits were officially unveiled yesterday.  Kehinde Wiley painted the portrait of President Obama and Amy Sherald painted the portrait of Michelle Obama.  The portrait of President Obama is part of the gallery's America's Presidents exhibition.  The gallery's collection includes over 1,600 images of presidents; it started commissioning presidents beginning with President George H.W. Bush.
Detail of portrait by Kehinde Wiley; the full dimensions are 84 1/8" x 57 7/8".
Detail of portrait by Amy Sherald; the full dimensions are 74 9/16" x 62 7/16".
Kim Sajet has served as director of the National Portrait Gallery since April 2013.
Dorothy Moss is curator of painting and sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery.
The portrait of Obama with Chuck Close's portrait of Bill Clinton in the background.
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