Barack Obama has selected Kehinde Wiley to paint his official presidential portrait, the Smithsonian has announced. Wiley is world-renowned for his portraits of young black men wearing the latest in hip-hop street fashion. Previous subjects of his paintings have included the Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Ice T, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Michael Jackson, and others. Wiley’s Obama portrait, as well as Michelle Obama’s official portrait by Amy Sherald, will be unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in early 2018.
Barack Obama Chooses Kehinde Wiley to Paint Official Presidential Portrait
The artist’s previous subjects include Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Grandmaster Flash, more
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage, Michael Bowles/Getty Images for Sotheby's
