A Nigerian, Kehinde Wiley to sketch out Barrack Obama's official portraits

Popular New York-based performer, Kehinde Wiley, was picked by former U.S. President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, to paint their own portraits.

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the memorial where the portrait is going to be put, declared the President's pick.

The Smithsonian portrait tradition began with George H. Bush and while those who have come before Obama have been painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler, a 90-year-old painter, Obama and his wife have chosen the younger Kehinde Wiley.

Although he did not grow up with him, Kehinde’s father is Nigerian while his mother is African American. When he turned 20, however, Kehinde took a trip to Nigeria to meet his father and learn about his patriarchal roots.

Wiley's portrait is very iconic and historic since it'll be the first time that a black man was given the task of making a presidential portrait to the Smithsonian because the very first task was commissioned in 1994.

The director of the Smithsonian, Kim Sajet, released a statement about the exciting project, saying, ‘The Portrait Gallery is absolutely delighted that Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald have agreed to create the official portraits of our former President and First Lady.

‘Both have achieved enormous success as artists, but even more, they make art that reflects the power and potential of portraiture in the 21st century.’

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/good-news-a-nigerian-kehinde-wiley-to-sketch-out-barrack-obamas-official-portraits/