Unveiling of the Official White House Portraits of the Obamas

At a White House ceremony on September 7, 2022, the official White House portraits of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were unveiled, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively, and funded by the White House Historical Association. The event was hosted by President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in the East Room.

The White House Historical Association has acquired and commissioned official portraits of the president and first lady since 1965. As is the custom, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama selected the artists before leaving office. Now that the portraits have been presented to the public, they will hang in the White House and be inducted into the White House Collection.

The Association also assisted in acquiring portraits of presidents and first ladies dating back to Washington, in an effort to add missing portraits to the White House Collection, and retroactively commissioned the official portraits of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.