Obama portraits unveiled at Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

By Staff The Associated Press

Posted February 12, 2018 11:26 am

Updated February 12, 2018 7:33 pm

1 min read

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Click to play video: 'Barack & Michelle Obama official portraits unveiled' — Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama were unveiled in Washington on Monday. The Obamas chose two African-American painters to take on this project. But critics say Michelle Obama's likeness is nothing like her. Here's Ines de La Cuetera – Feb 12, 2018

The National Portrait Gallery has unveiled portraits of former U.S. president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, both painted by African-American artists who were personally chosen by the Obamas.

The portraits were unveiled to the public Monday at the gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian group of museums. The gallery has a complete collection of presidential portraits. A second and different set of portraits of the former first couple will eventually hang in the White House.

Barack Obama’s portrait was painted by Kehinde Wiley – an artist best known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings of African-Americans.

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For Michelle Obama’s portrait, the gallery commissioned Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald, first-prize winner of the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.