The Obamas Return to The White House for Installation of Official Portraits

The first Black president and first lady will be officially added to The White House Portrait Collection.

The White House will welcome former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama for the installation of their official portraits. Their addition to the White House Collection marks the return of a tradition that has not been celebrated since 2012, when Obama held an unveiling ceremony for George W. Bush and Laura Bush.

According to CBS News, tradition holds that every current president hosts an unveiling for his immediate predecessor, but former President Donald Trump never hosted the Obamas to have their portraits installed after they were unveiled back in 2018 at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. However, the portraits were observed by visitors last year during The Obama Portraits Tour organized by the Smithsonian in 2021.

“The COVID-19 pandemic played a factor in the timing of the unveiling,” Stewart McLaurin, the president of The White House Historical Association, told CNN.

“The WHHA, a nonprofit organization, facilitates and funds the creation of the portraits. COVID impacted us two-and-a-half years ago, and I do think it’s important for these (portraits) to be revealed at a time when the public does have access to The White House and they can be seen,” McLaurin added.

The White House portraits are one of two sets of portraits created for the presidents and first ladies, and are not to be confused as the set that is unveiled at the Smithsonian. According to CNN, former President Obama’s portrait, painted by Kehinde Wiley, revisits Old Master paintings. In Michelle Obama’s portrait, painted by Amy Sherald, shades of gray are used to challenge conventions about race.

“There’s going to be a somewhat of an evolution in these portraits over time…and I think it’s actually going to be exciting,” McLaurin said.  He added, “I think this is going to be somewhat of a magical moment. I think it’s going to be an evolution of art.”

The ceremony, hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, will take place in the East Room, where Biden was surprised with a Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by Obama in 2017.

Although this is President Obama’s second visit to The White House since his presidency in 2017, this is Michelle Obama’s first return since then.