The Obama Foundation announced today that Njideka Akunyili Crosby is among the final group of major artist commissions for the Obama Presidential Center. The 19-acre campus, anchored by more than 25 new site-specific works, will open on 19 June 2026 in Chicago.
Crosby will present a portrait of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, weaving together archival imagery, family albums, historical ephemera, and cultural touchstones. This densely layered work and its precise biographical details simultaneously honour and connect the Obamas’ lasting legacy to the many generations of artists, activists, citizens and leaders whose collective journeys helped pave their way to the White House and sustained them through two terms.
The work will be exhibited in the Main Lobby of the Museum.
Image: Portrait of Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Photo by Shaughn and John
