Barack and Michelle Obama unveiled their first official library portrait that will be on display at the Obama Presidential Center’s Hope and Change Lobby.
The painting features the Obamas sitting in a colorful room filled with plants. Through the window behind them is a view of their Chicago home. In his tweet, Barack said the portrait references “so many chapters of Michelle and my story”.
The portrait was painted by internationally renowned artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. The Obamas got their first look at the portrait in the presidential library on Sunday, June 14.
“It’s us and all of the stories within the stories,” the former first lady said in a video posted to social media on Monday.
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… pic.twitter.com/8yFkyjV55D
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 15, 2026
The Nigerian-born and Los Angeles-based Akunyili Crosby said she began the process by sketching the Obamas, then reading their books and previous interviews. She also used photographs of the couple as reference.
“My whole studio got to know you,” Crosby told the Obamas. “I wanted to make these decisions that tapped into those memories so that when you saw this it felt familiar.”
The portrait, titled The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026, measures more than 9 feet tall and 10 feet wide, according to PEOPLE.
The Obama Presidential Center officially opens to the public on Juneteenth (June 19). The center features memorabilia from the former president’s years in office, as well as a museum, library, and various community spaces.
Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby 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… pic.twitter.com/3raI6ac2cj
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 15, 2026