Obama presidential portraits to be exhibited at the High Museum

Those who weren’t able to see the presidential portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama at the National Portrait gallery in Washington D.C. will soon have the opportunity to view them. In 2021, the famous portraits will be going on tour across the United States to five museums, places that are dear to both the Obamas, as well as the portrait artists, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald.

Megan Hoy, a third-year interior design student, stated that she thinks “the portraits are inspirational. They aren’t your traditional portrait of a president and First Lady. The Obamas are a monumental part of our country’s history, as they bring continued hope of togetherness and equality for all. Having there portraits here, in Atlanta, would be a reminder of how unique everyone is and what our great nation is capable of when we all come together for the greater good.”

These portraits are very popular in the U.S., where the National Portrait Gallery in D.C. experienced nearly a million more visitors than their usual visitor count when they were exhibited — Feb. 2018. Due to the many requests for the portraits be showcased in other cities by museum directors all across the country, this tour came to life.

Munirah Bint-Allah, a second-year animation student, was quite excited to hear that she can get the chance to see these portraits live. She stated that “it is pretty cool that America’s first black president’s portrait is going to be displayed” at the High Museum.

The cities and dates for this portrait tour are as follows:

The Art Institute of Chicago (June 18 – Aug. 15, 2021)

The Brooklyn Museum (Aug. 27 – Oct. 24, 2021)

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Nov. 5, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022)

The High Museum of Art (Jan. 14 – Mar. 13, 2022)

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Mar. 25 – May 30, 2022).