President Barack Obama - Kehinde Wiley (2018)
Size: 84 x 58 inches
Medium: Oil on Canvas
In the grand 7-by-5-ft. painting, unveiled in a ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery on Feb. 12, Obama is seated in an ornate brown chair, which combines 18th century and turn-of-the-20th century motifs. It is a great way of setting up the president, who combines within himself very different cultures and worlds, according to Kehinde Wiley. His arms are folded neatly across his lap, and he poses conventionally. Bright green vines illuminate the background, while buds of lilies, chrysanthemums, and jasmine are peppered throughout. Each represents important moments of his life. The African blue lilies represent Obama's father's home in Kenya, chrysanthemums are the flowers of Chicago—where Obama met Michelle and began both his family and political career—and the Arabian jasmine thrives in Hawaii, where the President spent much of his youth.
There is a visual dialogue between Obama and the plants in the foreground, as if both vie for attention as the star of the painting. Barack Obama made history in 2009 by becoming the first African American president. His skin glows as if lit from within, and he sits calmly, leaning slightly toward the audience. The unbuttoned collar projects a level of openness not often seen in other portraits. He gazes directly at the viewer, establishing an intimate connection. The artist portrays the values of the president through this painting. The life-size portrait enhances the sense of engagement, making the audience feel directly connected with the work. Kehinde Wiley, known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings of African Americans posed as famous figures from Western art history, is the creator of this masterpiece.
Manesha Peiris (2022)
