Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have unveiled their first official joint portrait, created by internationally acclaimed Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby.
The artwork, which captures the couple together for the first time in a single official portrait, will be displayed in the Hope and Change lobby of the Obama Presidential Centre beginning on Juneteenth, a U.S. holiday commemorating the end of slavery. Announcing the unveiling, Obama described the portrait as a reflection of the many chapters that have shaped his and Michelle’s shared journey, from their early years together to their time in the White House and their continued public service after leaving office.
The commission represents another major milestone for Crosby, one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of her generation and among the most influential African-born artists working on the global stage today.
The Obama Presidential Centre is set to open to the public on June 19, 2026, Juneteenth, with grand opening events running through June 21. The Obamas viewed the portrait in the Hope and Change Lobby on June 14, ahead of the public opening.
Born in Nigeria and now based in Los Angeles, Crosby is renowned for her distinctive mixed-media works that explore themes of identity, migration, memory, family and the cultural connections between Africa and the wider world. Her art frequently combines painting, photography, collage and personal archival imagery to create layered narratives that examine the experiences of people living between cultures. Her international reputation has grown steadily over the past decade.
In 2017, she received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the “Genius Grant,” recognising her exceptional creativity and influence in contemporary art. Her works have also been exhibited in leading institutions, including the Tate Modern, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Crosby is also the daughter of the late Dora Akunyili, the Nigerian pharmacist and public servant widely credited with leading the fight against counterfeit medicines in Nigeria. While her mother’s legacy shaped public health in Africa, Crosby has built her own global reputation through art, becoming one of the continent’s most recognised cultural ambassadors.
The selection of a Nigerian-born artist for such a significant commission highlights the growing influence of African creatives within global cultural institutions. It also reflects the increasing recognition of African perspectives in shaping contemporary art, storytelling and public memory.
For Crosby, the portrait places her work at the centre of one of the most visible presidential legacy projects in the United States. For Africa, it is another reminder that the continent’s artists continue to shape global culture at the highest levels, bringing African experiences, histories and perspectives into some of the world’s most important public spaces.