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Picturing the Obamas (2022)
Director: Hannah Brown Ayers
Cast: Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama
Runtime86 min
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Viewers learn from curators, journalists and art critics about the ways in which the Obamas’ portraits commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery disrupt traditional presidential portraiture and spur museums to reach new audiences. The paintings of the ex-commander in chief and first lady, by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, were revealed to much fanfare at the National Portrait Gallery in 2018. The portraits — which drew record attendance to the Washington art museum — have since traveled the country as part of a nationwide exhibition.
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Picturing the Obamas offers a unique and insightful look at the powerful portraits of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, capturing the ways in which their commissioned artworks disrupted traditional presidential portraiture and sparked important conversations about representation in museums. With commentary from curators, journalists, and art critics, this 2022 documentary directed by Hannah Brown Ayers provides a captivating examination of how these iconic paintings have helped reshape the art world.
About
Picturing the Obamas is a 2022 two-part documentary television series by the Smithsonian Channel documenting the history of the official portraits of former American President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, by respective artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald and the tour of the portraits being displayed in museums in Chicago, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston. The documentary also examines the impact of the portraits popularity and the legacy of the former president and first lady. The series premiered on September 10, 2022.
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