See behind-the-scenes photos of gorgeous The Obama Portraits book

By David Canfield
February 03, 2020 at 03:00 PM EST
Meredith has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Meredith may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.

1 of 8

The Obama Portraits

Credit: Princeton University Press

On Feb. 11, Princeton University Press will publish The Obama Portraits, an illustrated ode to the paintings of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as the work that went into them. A collaboration between National Portrait Gallery curators Taína Caragol and Dorothy Moss; art-history professor Richard J. Powell; and NPG director Kim Sajet, the book features several never-before-seen photos. EW can unveil a few of them here, exclusively.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 8

Artist at work

Credit: Ain Cocke/ © Kehinde Wiley 2017

Artist Kehinde Wiley works on the portrait of President Obama, late 2017.

3 of 8

Presidential sitting

Credit: Ain Cocke/ © Kehinde Wiley 2017

President Obama and artist Kehinde Wiley communicate during a sitting for the president’s portrait, summer 2017.

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 8

Strike a pose

Credit: courtesy of Amy Sherald

First Lady Michelle Obama poses for her portrait in a garden, in Maryland, on Oct. 2, 2017.

Advertisement

5 of 8

Painting break 

Credit: courtesy of Amy Sherald

Michelle Obama and Amy Sherald during a sitting for the former first lady’s portrait, Oct. 2, 2017

6 of 8

Studio shot

Credit: courtesy of Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald, set up in her Baltimore studio, mixes paint for her portrait of Mrs. Obama, late 2017.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 8

Artist and subject

Credit: Ain Cocke/ © Kehinde Wiley 2017

President Obama and Kehinde Wiley pose for a photograph during a sitting for the president’s portrait, summer 2017.

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 8

Art of the portrait

Credit: courtesy of Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald works on the gray skin tones, which for her connect to the history of photography and serve to elevate African Americans through portraiture, late 2017.

Select images from THE OBAMA PORTRAITS by Taína Caragol, Dorothy Moss, Richard Powell, and Kim Sajet. Copyright (c) 2020 by Smithsonian Institution. Published by Princeton University Press. Reprinted with permission.

Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next