— Washington Wednesday marked the official debut of former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama’s official White House portraits.
Michelle Obama is making her first visit to the White House since her husband left office in 2017. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are visiting the Obamas. In April, the former president attended a gathering at the White House commemorating the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.
Mr. Biden addressed the Obamas on Wednesday, “Barack and Michelle, welcome home!” “Welcome back!”
Obama stated, “It’s terrific to be back” after their portraits were displayed. “… Many thanks for your hospitality. We appreciate your permission to invite a few guests to the White House. We shall endeavor not to destroy the property.”
The former portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama at the White House. Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, on behalf of the Obama Foundation
The current president praised his previous boss on Wednesday.
Mr. Biden informed his predecessor, “Mr. President, nothing could have better prepared me to become president of the United States than serving alongside you for eight years, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
Robert McCurdy is the artist who painted President Obama. Sharon Sprung painted Michelle Obama.
The portrait of the former president depicts him in a black suit with a gray tie, in a highly realistic depiction based on images taken by McCurdy. Mrs. Obama’s image depicts her in a blue dress seated on a crimson sofa in the Red Room. Her picture is also composed entirely of photographs taken by Sprung.
McCurdy stated that the “marathon” took him approximately 18 months, while Sprung stated that she worked exclusively on Michelle Obama’s photo for eight to ten months. Both painters created works with the audience in mind.
Sprung remarked in a video about the creative process, “I wanted people to pass by the painting and identify her, or be more intrigued about her, or read more about her, but get her.”
McCurdy stated in a video that the composition of a painting is totally about the observer.
Sprung explained in the film that painting is a journey.
Sprung stated, “I don’t know how my paintings will turn out.” At this point in my career as a painter, I have sufficient trust in myself to consistently follow my intuition.
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden host former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama for the unveiling of their official White House portraits, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively, in the East Room of the White House on September 7, 2022 in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / REUTERS
Presidents normally invite their predecessors to the White House to present their formal portraits, but former President Trump broke with custom by refusing to invite the Obamas back to the White House during his administration. In 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama hosted former president George W. Bush and his wife Laura at the White House.
Upon leaving office, former presidents and first lady often have two official portraits completed. One set is shown at the National Portrait Gallery, while the other is added to the White House Historical Association’s collection for exhibition in the White House. In 2018, the National Portrait Gallery completed the Obamas’ portraits.