New-York based Nigerian artist, Kehinde Wiley, has been chosen by Former US president Barack Obama to paint his official portrait for Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. The tradition started with George H. Bush, in which an artist is commissioned to create a portrait of the president and the first lady after their tenure.
Though past American leaders had always commissioned 90-year old portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, who has so far painted eight US presidents, but Obama chose to go with Kehinde. This was disclosed in Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s announcement yesterday.
On the other hand, Former first lady Michelle Obama also chose Baltimore-based painter Amy Sherald to paint her portrait, making Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald the first black artists to create official presidential portraits for the Smithsonian.
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