The Obama Portraits Tour
The Obama Portraits Tour
From the moment of their unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in February 2018, the museum’s official portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama have become iconic. Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of the former First Lady have inspired unprecedented responses from the public.
This five-city tour will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Museum, LACMA, High Art Museum, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from June 2021 through May 2022 and is expected to reach millions of people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to view these remarkable paintings. In addition to the artworks themselves, the LACMA presentation of The Obama Portraits Tour will feature teacher workshops, curatorial tours, and a richly illustrated book. This special presentation will enhance the conversations surrounding the power of portraiture and its potential to engage communities.
The Obama Portraits Tour is presented in conjunction with Black American Portraits. The exhibitions are presented in adjacent galleries and both are included in General Admission.
Also Visit
Family Album: Dannielle Bowman, Janna Ireland and Contemporary Works from LACMA
A free exhibition at our off-site gallery four miles east of LACMA
Saturdays 1–4 pm | Nov 19–Jun 5, 2022
Charles White Elementary School | 2401 Wilshire Blvd.
From the moment of their unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in February 2018, the museum’s official portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama have become iconic. Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of the former First Lady have inspired unprecedented responses from the public.
This five-city tour will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Museum, LACMA, High Art Museum, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from June 2021 through May 2022 and is expected to reach millions of people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to view these remarkable paintings. In addition to the artworks themselves, the LACMA presentation of The Obama Portraits Tour will feature teacher workshops, curatorial tours, and a richly illustrated book. This special presentation will enhance the conversations surrounding the power of portraiture and its potential to engage communities.
The Obama Portraits Tour is presented in conjunction with Black American Portraits. The exhibitions are presented in adjacent galleries and both are included in General Admission.
Also Visit
Family Album: Dannielle Bowman, Janna Ireland and Contemporary Works from LACMA
A free exhibition at our off-site gallery four miles east of LACMA
Saturdays 1–4 pm | Nov 19–Jun 5, 2022
Charles White Elementary School | 2401 Wilshire Blvd.
The Obama Portraits Tour is organized by
Support for the national tour has been generously provided by
In Los Angeles:
Presented by
Principal sponsorship provided by Snapchat 
Major support provided by Janine Sherman Barrois and Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr.; Ina Coleman; Brickson E. Diamond; The Claire Falkenstein Foundation; Kristen Boggs Jaeger and Jeffrey Jaeger; Jill Lawrence and Paul Koplin in honor of Martha Koplin; Arthur R. Lewis; Janet Dreisen Rappaport; and D'Rita and Robbie Robinson.
Generous support provided by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®; Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation; Kimberly A. Blackwell; Lizzie and Steve Blatt; Rebecca and Troy Carter; Ava L. Coleman and Debra L. Lee; Far Western Region, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®; George and Azita Fatheree; Danny First; Foundation for Advancement in Conservation and Tru Vue, Inc.; The Gilford Family; Deon T. Jones; Gail and George Knox; Chrystal and Melvin D. Lindsey; Andrea Nelson Meigs and John Meigs; Issa Rae; Jason and Susan Riffe; Julie and Bennett Roberts, Roberts Projects; V. Joy Simmons, MD; Ryan Tarpley; Treehouse; Abbey Wemimo and Taylor Goodridge; Ric Whitney and Tina Perry-Whitney; and Dr. Francille Rusan Wilson and Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by Meredith and David Kaplan, with generous annual funding from Kevin J. Chen, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross, Mary and Daniel James, Justin Lubliner, Jennifer and Mark McCormick, Kelsey Lee Offield, Lenore and Richard Wayne, and Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto.
Image credits: Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley, 2018, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, © 2018 Kehinde Wiley; Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama by Amy Sherald, 2018, oil on linen, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. The National Portrait Gallery is grateful to the generous donors who made these commissions possible and proudly recognizes them at npg.si.edu/obamaportraitstour.
- Nov 7, 2021–Jan 2, 2022
- Resnick Pavilion
The Obama Portraits Tour is organized by
Support for the national tour has been generously provided by
In Los Angeles:
Presented by
Principal sponsorship provided by Snapchat
Major support provided by Janine Sherman Barrois and Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr.; Ina Coleman; Brickson E. Diamond; The Claire Falkenstein Foundation; Kristen Boggs Jaeger and Jeffrey Jaeger; Jill Lawrence and Paul Koplin in honor of Martha Koplin; Arthur R. Lewis; Janet Dreisen Rappaport; and D'Rita and Robbie Robinson.
Generous support provided by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®; Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation; Kimberly A. Blackwell; Lizzie and Steve Blatt; Rebecca and Troy Carter; Ava L. Coleman and Debra L. Lee; Far Western Region, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®; George and Azita Fatheree; Danny First; Foundation for Advancement in Conservation and Tru Vue, Inc.; The Gilford Family; Deon T. Jones; Gail and George Knox; Chrystal and Melvin D. Lindsey; Andrea Nelson Meigs and John Meigs; Issa Rae; Jason and Susan Riffe; Julie and Bennett Roberts, Roberts Projects; V. Joy Simmons, MD; Ryan Tarpley; Treehouse; Abbey Wemimo and Taylor Goodridge; Ric Whitney and Tina Perry-Whitney; and Dr. Francille Rusan Wilson and Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by Meredith and David Kaplan, with generous annual funding from Kevin J. Chen, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross, Mary and Daniel James, Justin Lubliner, Jennifer and Mark McCormick, Kelsey Lee Offield, Lenore and Richard Wayne, and Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto.
Image credits: Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley, 2018, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, © 2018 Kehinde Wiley; Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama by Amy Sherald, 2018, oil on linen, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. The National Portrait Gallery is grateful to the generous donors who made these commissions possible and proudly recognizes them at npg.si.edu/obamaportraitstour.
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