Obama Presidential Center Announces Final Artist Commissions for 2026 Opening

The Obama Foundation has announced the last set of eight artists chosen to create site-specific installations for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is set to open on June 19, 2026. Njideka Akunyili Crosby will depict a portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama in the main lobby, inspired by family photos and historical context. María Magdalena Campos-Pons will create an installation reflecting the White House garden, addressing themes of food and memory, while nodding to Michelle Obama's healthy eating campaigns. Jeffrey Gibson will produce a wall piece featuring 17 round prints that reference drums and badges, focusing on sound and collective action. Rashid Johnson's mosaic, Broken Men, will illustrate emotional states through human forms in the Teaching Kitchen. Hugo McCloud will layer plastic and paint to map significant locations from Barack Obama's life. Martin Puryear will design a large sculpture for the plaza based on a bent beam, echoing quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. Lorna Simpson will showcase a piece from her Ice series, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. Norman Teague will craft eight wooden benches for seating. Together, these artworks explore themes of memory, community, and the connections to Chicago and the White House, allowing visitors to engage with the Obamas' personal and civic narratives through art.