Picturing the Obamas(2022)

Picturing the Obamas Synopsis

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.

Picturing the Obamas (2022) is a documentary film directed by Hannah Brown Ayers, released on September 10, 2022 with a runtime of 1h 26m. It stars Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.