First Lady Michelle Obama (painting)

First Lady Michelle Obama is a 2018 portrait of Michelle Obama by the artist Amy Sherald for the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.

First Lady Michelle Obama
ArtistAmy Sherald 
Year2018
Mediumoil paint, linen
SubjectMichelle Obama 
Dimensions183.2 cm (72.1 in) × 152.7 cm (60.1 in) × 7 cm (2.8 in)
LocationNational Portrait Gallery
Accession No.PA/NPG.18-57 
Websitenpg.si.edu/object/npg_PA_NPG.18-57

Obama selected the artist, as well as the dress by the brand Milly by fashion designer Michelle Smith. Obama's face is stylized in shades of gray, an artistic technique known as grisaille, a key theme in works by Sherald, and the background is a simple blue evoking American folk art. Rather than focusing on an individualized glamor, the dress dominates the work as a mountain-like triangle. The dress is a variation on a halter gown from the Spring 2017 collection, with a modern geometric pattern that Sherald said reminded her of the works of 20th century Dutch painter Mondrian and the African-American quilting tradition of Gee's Bend, Alabama.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Together with Kehinde Wiley's portrait of her husband Barack Obama, the paintings were first exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery on February 12, 2018. The unveiling led to thousands of visitors lined up at the entrance, and a threefold increase in visitors compared to the prior President's Day Weekend.[12][13]

Parker Curry photograph

Shortly after the painting was put on display, a photograph of a two-year-old African-American girl, Parker Curry, staring at it in awe, went viral on social media.[14] The photograph was taken by Ben Hines of North Carolina.[15] Obama later met with Parker and her mother.[15][16]

References
  1. Cotter, Holland (2018-02-12). "Obama Portraits Blend Paint and Politics, and Fact and Fiction". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  2. McCauley, Mary Carole. "Michelle Obama portrait by Baltimore artist Amy Sherald makes national splash". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  3. SisumD (2018-02-13). "Former First Lady, Michelle Obama by Artist Amy Sherald". npg.si.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  4. Dingfelder, Sadie (2018-02-12). "Decoding the symbolism in the new Obama portraits". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. Félix, Doreen St (2018-02-13). "The Mystery of Amy Sherald's Portrait of Michelle Obama". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  6. Safronova, Valeriya (2018-03-06). "Michelle Obama Meets the 2-Year-Old Who Sees Her as a Queen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  7. "Michelle Obama Wears Milly in Her Official Portrait--Here's the Story Behind the Dress". Vogue. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  8. "The secrets behind Michelle Obama's first lady portrait dress". New York Post. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  9. "Milly Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  10. McCauley, Mary Carole (Feb 12, 2018). "Michelle Obama portrait by Baltimore artist Amy Sherald makes national splash". The Baltimore Sun.
  11. Saltz, Jerry. "The Obamas' Official Portraits Rise to the Occasion". Vulture. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  12. Cascone, Sarah (February 20, 2018). "The Obama Portraits Have Boosted Attendance to the National Portrait Gallery by More Than 300 Percent". Artnet News. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  13. McGlone, Peggy (February 20, 2018). "Obama paintings bring huge crowds, excitement to National Portrait Gallery". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  14. Curry, Jessica (12 March 2018). "Looking Up to Michelle Obama". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  15. Rosenwald, Michael S. (6 March 2018). "Michelle Obama meets the 2-year-old who was captivated by her portrait. And they danced". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  16. "Michelle Obama Had the Sweetest Dance Party With a Little Girl Who Loved Her Portrait". Harper's Bazaar. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

Further reading
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