Nigerian visual artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby has unveiled The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026, the first official joint portrait of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The monumental mixed‑media piece, measuring over 9 feet tall and 10 feet wide, was unveiled on June 14, 2026, just days before the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening on Chicago’s South Side.
Akunyili Crosby, born in Enugu, Nigeria, used her signature technique of layering acrylic, charcoal, and photo transfers to blend public history with intimate biography.
The portrait features symbols of the Obamas’ journey: Michelle’s childhood home, the Harvard Law Review from Barack’s tenure as its first Black president, and Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book – the first album Mrs Obama owned and their wedding dance song.
The artwork is permanently housed in the center’s Hope and Change Lobby. A dedication ceremony takes place on June 18, with the center opening to the public on Juneteenth, June 19.
Akunyili-Crosby, a 2017 MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient, cements her place as a leading painter of her generation, bringing Nigerian artistry to the heart of American political memory.
