Columbus-born artist Amy Sherald has been tapped to paint former first lady Michelle Obama’s portrait, which will hang in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Sherald, who lives in Baltimore, and fellow artist Kehinde Wiley of New York, were selected to do the portraits of former President Barack and first lady Michelle Obama.
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The Obamas weighed in on their selection.
Wiley, who is best known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings of African Americans, will create the portrait of President Obama.
Sherald, first-prize winner of the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.
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The two portraits will be unveiled at the museum in early 2018 and will be added to the gallery’s permanent collection.
At the end of each presidency, the museum partners with the White House to commission one official portrait of the president and one of his spouse. There are two sets of official portraits: one for the White House and one for the National Portrait Gallery.
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