Nigerian Artist Njideka Akunyili-Crosby Paints Official Obama Portraits for Presidential Centre

Nigerian-born visual artist Njideka Akunyili-Crosby has created the official portraits of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama for the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago. The center, set to open on June 19, is a sprawling campus that includes a library, art installations, and recreational facilities.

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Oh! My God, you got everything in there. My only real question is, how come you didn’t dye my hair in the program? Don’t they usually touch it up a little bit?

Michelle Obama shared the unveiling of the portraits in an Instagram video, showing the couple walking with the 43-year-old artist through the library to where the paintings hang. Both Barack and Michelle Obama expressed their admiration for the artwork, with the former president jokingly questioning why his hair wasn't touched up in the portrait.

Akunyili-Crosby, who is the daughter of the late Nigerian information minister Dora Akunyili, described the commission as a deeply rewarding yet challenging experience. She stated that the project pushed her artistic limits and required her utmost skill. To prepare, her studio immersed itself in the Obamas' work, reading their books, listening to interviews, and watching podcasts and videos.

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You know how long I’ve been wanting this woman to do something with and for me? It was an honour. I mean, we did it.

"I wanted to make these decisions that tapped into those memories. So when you saw this, it felt familiar," Akunyili-Crosby explained, aiming to create portraits that resonated with the couple's personal history and public image. In 2017, she was recognized for her exceptional creativity with a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, which includes a $625,000 grant.

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So I drew first of the two of you. We read all your books, listened to all the interviews you’ve done, and watched all the podcasts and videos. My whole studio got to know you. I wanted to make these decisions that tapped into those memories. So when you saw this, it felt familiar