In April 2026, the Obama Foundation announced that it had commissioned Njideka Akunyili Crosby to create the first official portrait of former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama together for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
According to the Foundation, the portrait draws on archival imagery, family albums, historical ephemera and cultural references to tell a story that is both personal and historical. The work will be displayed prominently in the museum’s main lobby, making it one of the centre’s most visible artistic commissions.
The work, which incorporates archival imagery, family photographs, historical references and cultural touchstones, is intended to tell the story of the former First Couple and their enduring legacy.
For Akunyili Crosby, the commission represents another milestone in a remarkable career that has transformed her from a young Nigerian immigrant navigating life in America into one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of her generation.
Projecting Nigerian Excellence on the Global Stage
Born in Enugu in 1983, Akunyili Crosby grew up in a family that valued education, service and excellence. As a teenager, she relocated to the United States.
Her mother, Dora Akunyili, was one of Nigeria’s most respected public servants. A pharmacist, academic and former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dora Akunyili became nationally renowned for her relentless campaign against counterfeit medicines.
Her efforts saved countless lives and earned her international recognition as a champion of public health and good governance. She later served as Minister of Information and Communications.
Her father, Chike Akunyili, built a distinguished career as a surgeon and medical practitioner.
Living between two cultures gave Njideka Akunyili a unique perspective on identity, belonging, memory and migration—themes that would later become central to her work. Rather than choosing between her Nigerian and American identities, she embraced both, developing an artistic language that reflects the complexities of life across cultures.
Having found her calling in art, Njideka chose using paint, photography and collage to explore questions of identity, memory and belonging.
Distinct Artistic Style
Akunyili Crosby’s paintings are instantly recognizable for their intricate layering of painting, collage, photography and image transfers.
Her works often depict intimate domestic scenes and family relationships while incorporating images drawn from Nigerian newspapers, magazines, photographs and popular culture.
Her paintings invite viewers to look beyond the surface. Embedded within them are fragments of personal memories and collective histories, creating works that function as both portraits and archives.
International Recognition
Over the past decade, Akunyili Crosby has emerged as one of the most acclaimed figures in contemporary art.
Her work has been exhibited at leading museums and galleries across North America and Europe and acquired by major public collections.
In 2017, she received a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “Genius Grant,” in recognition of her creativity and contributions to the arts.
Her paintings have also achieved significant commercial success, placing her among the most sought-after artists working today.
The Obama presidential center project also places her alongside distinguished artists such as Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, who created the official Obama portraits unveiled by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2018.
Unlike those earlier works, however, Akunyili Crosby’s commission marks the first official portrait depicting Barack and Michelle Obama together.
