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.
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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 Ina Coleman, Brickson E. Diamond, Kristen Boggs Jaeger and Jeffrey Jaeger, Jill Lawrence and Paul Koplin in honor of Martha Koplin, and Janet Dreisen Rappaport.
Generous support provided by Kimberly A. Blackwell; Lizzie and Steve Blatt; Ava L. Coleman and Debra L. Lee; Danny First; Foundation for Advancement in Conservation and Tru Vue, Inc.; Chrystal and Melvin D. Lindsey; Jason and Susan Riffe; Julie and Bennett Roberts, Roberts Projects; V. Joy Simmons, MD; Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation; and Ryan Tarpley.
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 Terry and Lionel Bell, Kevin J. Chen, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross, Mary and Daniel James, David Lloyd and Kimberly Steward, Kelsey Lee Offield, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Lee Shaw, Lenore and Richard Wayne, Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto, and The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation.
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
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Member Preview Dates: Nov 4-6
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 Ina Coleman, Brickson E. Diamond, Kristen Boggs Jaeger and Jeffrey Jaeger, Jill Lawrence and Paul Koplin in honor of Martha Koplin, and Janet Dreisen Rappaport.
Generous support provided by Kimberly A. Blackwell; Lizzie and Steve Blatt; Ava L. Coleman and Debra L. Lee; Danny First; Foundation for Advancement in Conservation and Tru Vue, Inc.; Chrystal and Melvin D. Lindsey; Jason and Susan Riffe; Julie and Bennett Roberts, Roberts Projects; V. Joy Simmons, MD; Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation; and Ryan Tarpley.
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 Terry and Lionel Bell, Kevin J. Chen, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross, Mary and Daniel James, David Lloyd and Kimberly Steward, Kelsey Lee Offield, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Lee Shaw, Lenore and Richard Wayne, Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto, and The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation.
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.
