The official portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama were unveiled at the White House.
WASHINGTON --
McCurdy told the White House Historical Association in an interview that his process focused on working off of a photograph of the former President. The photorealistic image of the former President, dressed in a black suit with a gray tie, is painted against a minimal white backdrop -- a signature of McCurdy's artworks. McCurdy said his paintings take at least a year to complete.
"You both generated hope for millions of people who were left behind for so long -- and it matters. You both did it with such grace and such class. You dreamed big and secured lasting wins for the American people, helping lift their burden with a blessing of hope," he continued. "It's so underestimated ... just having hope. This is the gift of the Obama presidency to the country and to history.
But the Obamas have often used art as a tool to express their tastes, so it should come as no surprise that their White House portraits are doing the same. While past presidents attain a form of "mythical status" after leaving office, Obama said he hoped future generations would look at the portraits and "get a better, honest sense of who Michelle and I were."
Michelle Obama said during the ceremony that though she "never could have imagined" being first lady would be part of her story, she recognized that "traditions like this matter, not just for those of us who hold these positions, but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy." A Robert Rauschenberg painting replaced a portrait of a Roosevelt in the family dining room. Mark Rothko and Josef Albers works were installed. And Michelle Obama brought in work from Alma Thomas -- the first Black female artist in the White House Collection.
Unlike the 2012 Bush portraits unveiling, Wednesday's event mostly hosted attendees from the same political party -- with some attendees having connections to both administrations. The Bidens also hosted the Obamas and Robinson for a private lunch at the White House ahead of the East Room event. The conversation was more focused on nostalgia, an official said, rather than a strategy session on midterm elections or pending policies.
Their history, while one of partnership, has also been colored by various slights, real or perceived, that still linger.
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