Kehinde Wiley unveils Barack Obama's official presidential portrait

On February 12, 2018, Kehinde Wiley unveiled his official portrait of President Barack Obama for the National Portrait Gallery — the first time a Black artist had been commissioned to paint an official presidential portrait for the Smithsonian. Wiley depicted Obama seated amid flowering plants symbolic of Kenya, Hawaii, Chicago, and Washington. The unveiling was a cultural watershed, with millions viewing the portrait and sparking national conversation about representation in American institutions.