The Audacity of Art at the Obama Presidential Center
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Obama Presidential Center, opening in June on Chicago's South Side, will feature traditional elements like a full-scale Oval Office model, election night videos, and mannequins with the first lady's dresses.
- Uniquely, the center will prominently display original works by 30 artists commissioned by Barack and Michelle Obama, highlighting their commitment to the arts.
- The Obamas have consistently supported artists during their administrations, showcasing figures such as Alma Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, and Amy Sherald in significant cultural collections.
- Barack Obama emphasized that the center aims to be more than a museum or library, aspiring to serve as a vital cultural institution for the community, with art playing a central role.
