This week the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. unveiled its brand new, official paintings of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
![]()
Mr. Obama's portrait was painted by Kehinde Wiley, whoever that is, and features the former president in what appears to be a garden setting.
It's a nice likeness of him, but... I probably would have opted to have him standing, rather than sitting in a chair. And what the hell's up with that background? According to the artist, the ivy wall features flowers native to Illinois, Kenya and Hawaii, to "reflect Obama's path on Earth through those plants that weave their way to the foreground."
![]()
I dunno. Every time I look at it, all I see is this. And now you will too.
It's a nice likeness of him, but... I probably would have opted to have him standing, rather than sitting in a chair. And what the hell's up with that background? According to the artist, the ivy wall features flowers native to Illinois, Kenya and Hawaii, to "reflect Obama's path on Earth through those plants that weave their way to the foreground."
