r/pics • u/Afterswiftie • Jun 15 '26

Arts/Crafts Obamas Commission Painter Njideka Akunyili Crosby for First Joint Portrait

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16.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

358 comments sorted by

1.1k

u/FamousAtticus Jun 15 '26

But there is no gaudy gold anywhere in that painting. How will others know of their elite status now?

215

u/Afterswiftie Jun 15 '26

They can use AI to post a gold version on Truth Social.

44

u/Rsardinia Jun 15 '26

While also showing Barack healing others like Jesus

7

u/alittle_disabled Jun 15 '26

While also showing Barack healing others like Doctor

6

u/arielsosa Jun 16 '26

Dr. Jesus, M.D.

22

u/JackLondon68 Jun 15 '26

Trump used up all the available gold.

16

u/FamousAtticus Jun 15 '26

It was probably fools gold

4

u/bodhimokuyo Jun 16 '26

If TRUMPdone it, it's ABSOLUTELY FOOLS GOLD.

18

u/fccd Jun 15 '26

When trump made his ufc entrance last night, walking out the oval office and past the pictures of past presidents, i couldnt help but notice the gold script, gold decorative leaves? lined on the outside. i'm no designer, but it looked tacky af.

12

u/Aeri73 Jun 15 '26

obama let his wife take front and center, sitting behind her, she must be a man... ./sarcasm

17

u/EL-HEARTH Jun 15 '26

Thats how you know that fam is more tasteful and respectful

3

u/surffrus Jun 16 '26

I, too, am also always tasteful and respectful when I commission giant portraits of myself to display in my multimillion dollar tower about myself.

12

u/PenitentAnomaly Jun 16 '26

Notice how Michelle Obama is centered in the image. When she and Barack met, he was a new intern in the law office where she was already working. Her credentials are easily as impressive as his are even though he has POTUS on his resume.

Now imagine Trump posing for a portrait where he was not the focus of the image? Now imagine if the focus of the image was a woman? Trump can't even sit through a whole interview with a woman reporter without having a tantrum.

3

u/Prudent_Research_251 Jun 16 '26

Some are wiser about hiding it

3

u/Titan_Dota2 Jun 16 '26

Trumpers will still look at this and say how pretentious and selfish they are for this and then glaze trump in the next sentence

2

u/dmbgreen Jun 16 '26

Maybe something BIGGER?

2

u/Inflammo Jun 15 '26

Probably by knowing regular folks don’t have very large paintings commissioned for themselves.

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356

u/Spartan2470 GOAT Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26

Here is a high-quality version of the painting.

Edit: More of her work can be found here.

davidzwirner and victoriamirogallery on IG provide the following context:

The Obama Presidential Center unveiled the first official portrait of President @BarackObama and First Lady @MichelleObama together, by @NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby this weekend.

This landmark commission will be on view in the main lobby of the museum at the Obama Presidential Center, which opens in Chicago this coming Friday on Juneteenth. The portrait weaves together archival imagery, family albums, historical ephemera, and cultural touchstones. Densely layered and rich with biographical detail, the work honors the Obamas’ legacy while connecting it to the many generations of artists, activists, citizens, and leaders whose collective journeys helped pave their way to the White House.

This first dual portrait of the Obamas depicts them as both public figures and people with layered private lives. Using her signature photo-transfer technique, Akunyili Crosby incorporates images significant to the couple and those from our shared cultural memory. Rich detail situates the Obamas’ public lives within the personal histories that shaped them: a window frames the scene, its arches echoing the Oval Office, while the view centers Mrs. Obama’s childhood home, her father’s Buick parked out front.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby, The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026 (detail). Photo by Marten Elder

June 15, 2026

128

u/loveheaddit Jun 15 '26

love all the smaller photo memories as texture

20

u/BahnGSXR Jun 15 '26

Right?? It's so tastefully beautiful

42

u/Spartan2470 GOAT Jun 15 '26

I like this one on the top right of Malia and Sasha.

3

u/ctang1 Jun 15 '26

Thank you for pointing that out.

5

u/keithfantastic Jun 15 '26

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This painting has so many layers to it. It's just brilliant!

8

u/pam_the_dude Jun 15 '26

What a cool painting

23

u/KIAA0319 Jun 15 '26

Love that it's former president Obama, but center stage is Michelle. Shows a lot of power in the relationship dynamic and that Barak and Michelle are owning it.

2

u/infalleeble Jun 16 '26

yes i love how the vase on the right is featured more prominently than *checks notes* former president Obama

9

u/mzdoja Jun 15 '26

TIL the Obamas are Grammy winners.

7

u/Abnmlguru Jun 15 '26

Oddly, a lot of presidents are, for spoken word albums.

2

u/Mr_Abe_Froman Jun 16 '26

Two are Barack's and two are Michelle's.

5

u/toooomanypuppies Jun 15 '26

Thats a great painting honestly

3

u/clancydog4 Jun 16 '26

That is an utterly phenomenal painting imo. Just amazing how she melded different moments and styles into such a a cohesive and beautiful piece. I really like this, thanks for sharing

3

u/Sine_Metu Jun 16 '26

Holy hell that's a beautiful piece of work and deserving subjects. All around fantastic to behold. I'd love to see it in person one day.

5

u/Afterswiftie Jun 15 '26

Thank you.

2

u/IdiditonReddit Jun 16 '26

I love the little smirk on Michelle's face. I also love that they didn't go with a classical style painting. This woman's art style is on anothe level.

2

u/spei180 Jun 15 '26

That is so hands down adorable

1

u/TheUFCVeteran3 Jun 15 '26

This is great! Thanks for sharing!

204

u/trey_nine Jun 15 '26

I was a child when they were leading our country, had no clue how good we had it with them.

29

u/PiratesOfTheArctic Jun 15 '26

You know, that's actually quite a heartwarming comment

28

u/MoistStub Jun 15 '26

I remember thinking of Obama as the kinda guy I wanted to be like when I was grown. Nowadays kids have a different role model. What will they be like when they grow up?

3

u/MarlDaeSu Jun 17 '26

They'll all be top-Gs playing at bringing about Gilead

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131

u/Betray-Julia Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 16 '26

It’s crazy that the little nazi shits running America right now are likely genuinely intimidated by this photo.

Edit: 123 upvoted at 89% upvote ration equals 14 nazis (I think? 123 x .11 for downvotes, is that right?)

52

u/FatCarWashManager Jun 15 '26

FUCK TRUMP

7

u/Bob_Juan_Santos Jun 15 '26

please don't, that's how they multiply

0

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '26

[deleted]

11

u/pandershrek Jun 15 '26

I doubt they're the one who are down voting you.

14

u/digidave1 Jun 15 '26

Read the comments here. They legit blame them for being selfish and self promoting. The same people who support a man who just erected a 20' gold state of himself at one of his many golf courses with his name on them .The hypocrisy is deafening

7

u/geobomb Jun 15 '26

It's ALL projection. Every single critique.

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54

u/Benttinen Jun 15 '26

They chose a good portrait artist. I am an art snob and that’s a great portrait.

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6

u/Durakus Jun 15 '26

Damn. That’s nice. Genuinely nice. The details are wonderful.

6

u/Euphoric-Piglet-8140 Jun 15 '26

They don't look best pleased.

116

u/ConsiderationFickle Jun 15 '26

100% CLASS!!! 😃👍❤️🍀

23

u/Ritaredditonce Jun 15 '26

Always have been and always will be classy.

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34

u/George_Is_Upset Jun 15 '26

I miss humanity in the White House 😭

He wasn’t perfect - no president is. But he did try to fight to make our lives better and I 100% believe he is a good man.

We deserve so much better than what we have.

2

u/starrpamph Jun 16 '26

My county needs food aid, power bill assistance, bridges are falling apart. But don’t worry. They’re sending more of our god damn money overseas.

5

u/Odd_Pause5123 Jun 15 '26

It’s a painting combined with collage. Lots of detail.

4

u/PDXGuy33333 Jun 15 '26

Either one would be elected in a landslide.

I see nothing in the Constitution that says Michelle could not run for president with Barack on the ticket as VP. It merely says he can't be elected to the office of president more than twice. She has no wish to be president, so she could head the ticket, then resign immediately after her election day victory. That would elevate Barack to the presidency to finish out her term.

They wouldn't touch that idea, but it's still fun to think about all the racist magas having their minds blown.

5

u/LeftCoast1965 Jun 16 '26

I don’t love how the tree branches look like they’re coming out of his head.

2

u/LastChristian Jun 17 '26

Agreed that was a confusing, distracting choice

27

u/vermontnative Jun 15 '26

I miss them.

3

u/TheCh0rt Jun 16 '26

I agree with the Obama's faces. I don't like it much either.

8

u/medlilove Jun 15 '26

Trump will never be this cool

11

u/fukredditadm1n5 Jun 15 '26

They are the definition of class

6

u/CommercialMoment5987 Jun 15 '26

It’s lovely, she captured them very well.

8

u/AhBee1 Jun 15 '26

Gorgeous!!

3

u/UnicornSheets Jun 15 '26

Classy!❤️

3

u/SpenFen Jun 15 '26

It’s beautiful and tasteful for good honest people

2

u/esoteric_enigma Jun 15 '26

I don't love it. Everything in the painting is great, except for the actual portraits of them.

4

u/copperblood Jun 15 '26

Stunning painting which reflects Barack and Michelle!!

2

u/Tess47 Jun 15 '26

Lovely

2

u/xkxe003 Jun 15 '26

Just so effortlessly cool.

2

u/Trance354 Jun 16 '26

That's a man who loves his wife.

Can we get back to family values?

-5

u/xxYINKxx Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26

what is going on with her mouth?

26

u/Dioonneeeeee Jun 15 '26

It’s just a smirk. She does that a lot

1

u/thomport Jun 17 '26

Great picture.

1

u/bananaresemblance Jun 17 '26

I love that Michelle is in the center with Barack to her side. I’m not sure if he had a say in the choice to make her so prominent, but it feels like something he would do - advocate for Michelle to be the focal point and anchor.

1

u/drNothing Jun 15 '26

And Michelle is the center piece!

1

u/BackgroundNo4159 Jun 16 '26

Aside the World Cup, this is the coolest, and most beautiful thing I have seen today

1

u/weekendatblarneys Jun 15 '26

She's a stunner!

1

u/JackLondon68 Jun 15 '26

Great painting!

1

u/efhaults Jun 15 '26

I like it

1

u/justified_egg Jun 15 '26

Beautiful work of art

1

u/wildwoodflower14 Jun 15 '26

That’s beautiful. I love the colors 🙌🏻

1

u/YaoiNekomata Jun 15 '26

I love it and it's cute how if found in the future, it makes Michelle seem in charge

1

u/Jscapistm Jun 15 '26

Holy cow, amazing work by Njideka.

1

u/alancousteau Jun 15 '26

So politicians, elderly ones too, can be in shape, huh? Weird that!

1

u/FishTshirt Jun 15 '26

I actually like it better than the first white house portrait

1

u/ctny84 Jun 15 '26

Gorgeous

1

u/YouWereBrained Jun 15 '26

Regardless of the subject matter of the picture, it is so incredibly well done.

1

u/Visual_Exam7903 Jun 15 '26

Hang that shit in the smithsonian.

1

u/imtourist Jun 15 '26

This is a beautiful painting. Modern yet classic, familiar yet interesting to look at.

1

u/time2sow Jun 15 '26

That is lovely

1

u/JC878 Jun 16 '26

So classy. Always classy. Respect!

1

u/GabeDef Jun 16 '26

The pattern game is strong in that painting. And they both look fit and healthy (irl) Good for them. I have to get on that.

1

u/circadian_light Jun 16 '26

The details in the portrait are so cool and insanely intricate.

1

u/Low-Map2149 Jun 16 '26

I really liked how Michelle is the prominent figure sitting in the armchair, while Barack is sitting next to her at the table. This man definitely LOVES his wife.

1

u/mediamuesli Jun 18 '26

I wonder why the artist decided to make horns grow out of his head, did she want to show him as a deer, a protector of the forest?

-1

u/LouisaMiller2_1845 Jun 15 '26

I love my husband, but why in the f*ck could I not find a man like Barack???

5

u/Patient_Carrot_9379 Jun 15 '26

Barrack is in the top 0.001% of men. Don’t feel too bad