Artist Unveils Michelle Obama Artwork
NY-based artist Elizabeth Peyton unveiled her artwork depicting Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha listening to Barack Obama’s speech during the Democratic National Convention.
The artwork’s similarities to the famous Coretta Scott King and Bernice King photo are not very complimentary.
The painting’s hidden meaning should be obvious. Why is Michelle scowling? And let me not even begin on Sasha’s complexion, which is a few shades darker than she appears in real life. This is art and I am supposed to be open minded to it.
The painting also appears in this month’s W magazine
45 Responses to “Artist Unveils Michelle Obama Artwork”
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[Commented edited by blog owner to keep the Peace in this thread]
Don’t like the portrait either
You are quite right, the meaning is obvious, these families and their mission are quite the same. Destiny defies all hate, all roadblocks, all non-believers in life. He did it despite the skeptics, despite the non-supporters because the good Lord had spoken and what’s for him is for him, may God bless him and his family.
much a do about nothing as usual sandra! – how can you compare a painting to a photograph?…
@Sali:
You should see the real picture that inspired the portrait, it is quite breath-taking the emotion in both mother’s eyes. But Im sure that wont get posted.
WAS GOING TO COMMENT ON THE 1ST THING…BUT YOU KNOW WHAT… I FILED IT UNDER WHO CARES.
I agree with Sali. The orginal of photo Michelle is breath taking. She’s now scowling at all. I don’t like this painting and It should not have been picked for a magazine article. She’s not depicted as the Michelle I see on TV or any other magazine. It’s garbage.
Typo- She’s NOT scowling at all.
ART is always open to interpetation … does anyone have a link or site where the original photo is located/presented?
Boy Sandra, I don’t know about mothers in London but mothers here in AMERICA say if you can’t say something nice DON’T say anything at all. It means SHUT UP!!!!
@6 you are right she is not scowling. I had to click on the picture to enlarge to look at it closer up.
@Iyonah:
Whats ur email? If you dont mind posting on here. You are right art is defined by the artist.
@MrsJonesK:
That was my comment. Im glad you saw the real pic.
@ luvly1957 – she doens’t know how to be positive or nice. I thought she did but I was wrong.
Its sent. Comment when u get it, Im sure you can appreciate the beauty of it as well.
doesn’t***– -ok I am going to go and get some work done now.
I don’t like the picture of my first lady. But hey that’s art for ya!! Sandra you was off yesterday and now u want to come back with some hate on Obama and his daughter skin complexion. Lawd have mercy!!
@Iyonah:
Me too, this is getting out of control.
DAYUM SANDRA….JUST DAYUM….HI HATER!
Auntie you have sunk to a new low:
“And let me not even begin on Sasha’s complexion, which is a few shades darker than she appears in real life.”
Hell most base make up doesnt match our complexion either. I personally like the picture – what fuuuckin scowl she looks like she is intensely listening to her husband and like most kids that kid bored with sitting still babygirl is restless on her mother’s lap – pic depicts reality to me
I LOVE IT – GO ………….NEVA MIND
@#16:
She is actually smiling in the real pic and looks quite beautiful…………this is just another opportunity to stab at THE FIRST FAMILY.
VERY MORBID!
@ sali: sandra does not play that “first” stuff on hear…i’m not trying to attack you at all, just stating the facts…
i meant on to say on here…
I can’t believe you all are looking past the fact that Coretta and her daughter are morning in their photo, and the artists reproduces the same thing with the first lady and her baby. I hope they never have to see that day any time soon, but even still, I find the photo repulsive. Where was this artists mind?
By the way, a cracka got out of line today and said that they Obamas are going to pull up the rose bushes at the white house and plant watermelon patches. I politely remondedhim how disrespectful he is. My mother said to brace myself because it’s only going to get worse…
@readtheblog:
U are right, Coretta and child were mourning. But Michelle and daughter are rejoicing Im sure because the artist didnt reproduce anything that was an ACTUAL picture of Michelle and daughter. This is in the now, and Obama is with us, so I wouldnt go that deep with it.
we all do or say some things that are just plain in bad taste. they are hurtful, and mean, and just all around negative.
some of us more than others.it is their right to do so. we just have to comment and K.I.M.
@ keely … I didn’t get it yet.
@ readthblog … I cna’t believe some one actually said that aloud – they had to know if they were in hearing distance of any sane person there would be a response.
can’t**
I STILL SAY SANDRA IS A HATER….SHE REALLY NEEDS TO LEAVE “OUR PRESIDENT” AND HIS FAMILY ALONE!!!!
@ READTHEBLOG:
YOU SHOULDA TOLD HIS PUNK ASS THAT HIS HAYCHEWING, SHYTSTAIN OVERALL WEARING; INSESTIOUS GRANDDADDY WOULD BE OUT THERE PICKING THEM AND SELLING THEM MUTHA****A’S RIGHT IN BALCH SPRINGS, TX!
@Iyonah:
it is bouncing back iyonah@hotmail.com right?
@ bloggergirlz thanks for stating the fact but I really don’t care if she plays that or night. I was just excited to be first because I’m usually late in the game in giving comments. Today is definitely a slow work day.
ReadTheBlog Says:
I can’t believe you all are looking past the fact that Coretta and her daughter are morning in their photo, and the artists reproduces the same thing with the first lady and her baby. I hope they never have to see that day any time soon, but even still, I find the photo repulsive. Where was this artists mind?
**********************************************
Thank you! My point exactly. I can’t believe that no one is offended by the artist’s horrible depiction of beautiful Sasha.
THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS REALLY GOING TO EXPOSE THE CLOSET RACIST. tAHT COMMENT READTHEBLOG SAID SHE OVER HEARD SOUNDS LIEK SOMETHING MY BOSS WOULD SAY – I GOT A ATTITUDE NOW!
Yes, iyonah I know but I keep hoping she’ll realize she’s in America and we do think different than the people from England who worship an old ass queen and her cheating ass son and don’t let me start on their Prime Minister.
I try my best to not even click or read these hateful things said about Mr. President Obama. I guess its not enough celeb gossip to post?
Well I heard Wendy W sidekick Charlamange got Fired can you report that. Or NeNe is getting her own show? Is that true.
Is it easier to just post pics you find on the net and make up some bogus crap to piss people off to get hits to pay your bills.
I only come here bc of the mature bloggers (to the person saying first. This is not the place) who comment and have no problem putting u in your place.
Michelle is the wife of the st black president in this country and Coretta King, of the most vocal leader of the civil rights movment…did you stop to think that maybe thats the comparison?….both these ladies were the backbone of their husbands who have and will do down as historical figures within the black community…thats it!
^^1st and Go Down…my bad
Its why i don’t like art. Art seems to always exacerate….pardom my bad spelling….i think
@ keely @ tmail.com
Yeah, idk why she painted it this way. In the real pic Michelle is actually smiling….smh.
My sis works in a real estate office and one of her co-workers said he was “heading to Chicago with my rifle.”
My sister told him he needed to refrain from speaking to her EVER again, unless it concernced business. She walked away. He said he was just joking.
Dead, damn stare at him.
She told him she would never say something about that had McCain won, because murdering someone was not funny.
My sis has class and kept it moving.
I see the comparisons and personally I love the photo. I don’t however, understand why it’s necessary to point out the child in the painting is darker than the child in real life. Sandra Really!!
Terry .W Says:
Michelle is the wife of the st black president in this country and Coretta King, of the most vocal leader of the civil rights movment…did you stop to think that maybe thats the comparison?….both these ladies were the backbone of their husbands who have and will do down as historical figures within the black community…thats it.
~~~~~~~~~~
I understand what you are saying. But when I saw the pic I did not like the “symbol” of the pic. I did not leave a comment earlier but chose to go to a different post on this site to surf. To me it looks like many ppl want Obama to be kiled some how, and his wife and his baby in the pic are mourning.
I know bad taste in art and good taste in art for a reaction. This art of expression only eludes hate and not self expression of the artist
i dont like the picture either, or the comparison. one is the beginning to a trimphant time, the other was the ending to tragic loss. there’s no comparison.
if the artist wanted to paint something, why not paint the seas of people at MLK speechs, the one in Washington with thousands and thousands of people..with the monument in the back drop and that long stretch of water (fountain)…that one along side a Barack rally or speech would’ve been more appropriate.
When I saw this, my first thought was ‘are they saying she’s going to morn a loss too?’ it’s not a good picture at all.
mourn