The Obama Portraits: Beyond Brushstrokes
The below webpage was designed for an imagined exhibit of the Obama Portraits at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. A QR code beside the portraits directs patrons to this page to explore the context, meaning, and process of the works' creation.
APPRECIATE
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, 2018
The Obama Portraits, created in 2018 by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, are more than just visual feasts. They represent a cultural moment that honors African-American culture, the impact of Barack Obama's presidency, and the narrative power of creative expression. By delving into the historical context of presidential portraits, visiting the art studio of Amy Sherald, decoding the symbolism in each piece, and examining contemporary methods of self-expression, we can use these portraits as an access point to the cultural moment they symbolize.
EXPLORE
Let's start by comparing Barack Obama's presidential portrait with those commissioned over the last century. Kehinde Wiley is certainly not the first artist to lend his own personal flair to a presidential portrait- consider Elaine de Kooning's John F. Kennedy, or Chuck Close's William J. Clinton as particularly artistic interpretations. What does Wiley do to differentiate his painting from those that came before? How does he reference tradition, and when does he subvert it?
Here's a link to an online gallery of 100 years of presidential portraits, including those mentioned above.
WATCH
Amy Sherald defines her work as recognizing "everyday people, doing everyday things." Watch this short video to get an inside look at her process and learn why she approaches her subjects the way she does. Consider how the First Lady of the United States of America may represent a new kind of subject for the artist. Why would Michelle Obama be drawn to Amy Sherald as the ideal artist to create her portrait?
READ
Wiley and Sherald weave the Obama's' personal and cultural histories into their portraits with subtle symbolism that escapes the eye of the casual observer. Use this concise guide to decode the artists' hidden messages. Why would the artists include these references? What story do these elements tell together?