By Fridah Mbuvi, June 16, 2026
Former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have unveiled their official joint portrait, titled The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026, at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
The monumental 9-by-10-foot mixed-media artwork, created by acclaimed Nigerian-American artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby, was presented as one of the center’s signature exhibits and will remain permanently displayed in the Hope and Change Lobby, which is open to the public free of charge.
The portrait combines acrylic paint, colored pencils, charcoal and photo transfers on paper, reflecting Akunyili Crosby’s distinctive style of blending public history with intimate personal memories.
Embedded within the artwork are numerous symbolic references to the couple’s lives and achievements. Among them are images of Michelle Obama’s childhood home on Euclid Avenue, Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book album, the carved pattern of the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk, the couple’s four Grammy Awards and a basketball, reflecting Barack Obama’s passion for the sport.
The layered composition incorporates archival images into Barack Obama’s suit, Michelle Obama’s dress and the surrounding background, creating what the artist described as interconnected stories woven into a single image.
Upon viewing the portrait for the first time, Michelle Obama praised the artwork for capturing “the stories within the story.”
Barack Obama, meanwhile, lightheartedly joked with the artist, asking why she had not chosen to conceal his increasingly gray hair.
The unveiling formed a centerpiece of celebrations marking the official opening of the Obama Presidential Center, which chronicles the lives, legacy and public service of the former first couple.
The center is expected to attract visitors from across the world and serve as a hub for civic engagement, leadership and historical preservation.
