Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, the Nigerian-American artist and the daughter of late Dora Akunyili, has created a portrait of former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
In a post via X, Michelle shared a video of Akunyili-Crosby unveiling the artwork created for the Obama presidential center in Chicago.
The Obama presidential center is an under-construction museum, library, and educational project commemorating Barack Obama’s legacy. It is scheduled to open to the public on June 19.
In her caption, Michelle described the portrait as a deeply appreciated honour and praised Akunyili-Crosby’s “artistic brilliance,” noting the vibrant energy captured in the piece.
“Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too,” she wrote.
Obama also reacted positively, stating that the portrait “looked fantastic”.
Discussing her creative process, Akunyili-Crosby explained that she immersed herself in the couple’s past works and interviews to guide her artistic decisions.
“We read all your books and listened to all your interviews, podcasts, and videos. My whole studio got to know you. I wanted to make decisions that tapped into those memories so it would feel familiar,” she said.
Akunyili-Crosby has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the Financial Times’ ‘Women of the Year’ in 2016 and receiving the MacArthur Fellowship ‘Genius Grant’ in 2017.
She also designed a 2018 mural for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and, in 2023, showcased works on Nigerian culture at David Zwirner’s gallery in Los Angeles.