Kehinde Wiley , an American creative person known for his howling portraits of African - American subjects , has painted Michael Jackson , Ice - T , andThe Notorious B.I.G.in his work . Now the artist will have the purity of adding Barack Obama to that list . accord to theSmithsonian , the former President of the United States has choose Wiley to paint his prescribed presidential portraiture , which will give ear in the National Portrait Gallery .
Wiley ’s portrait typically depict black the great unwashed in herculean pose . Sometimes he pattern his workplace after classic paintings , as was the case with " Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps . ” The subject are often dress in pelvis - hop - style vesture and placed against ornamental backdrops .
Smithsonian also announce that Baltimore - base artistAmy Sheraldhas been choose by former first lady Michelle Obama to paint her portrait for the drift . Like Wiley , Sherald uses her work to challenge stereotype of African - Americans in artistry .
“ The Portrait Gallery is absolutely delighted that Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald have agreed to create the prescribed portrait of our former president and first ma’am , ” Kim Sajet , film director of the National Portrait Gallery , said in a press release . “ Both have achieved tremendous success as artists , but even more , they make art that reflects the power and potential of portrayal in the 21st one C . ”
The custom of the chairwoman and first lady personate for portraits for the National Portrait Gallery dates back to George H.W. Bush . Both Wiley ’s and Sherald ’s pieces will be revealed in early 2018 as permanent additions to the gallery in Washington , D.C.
