Barack and Michelle Obama's official portraits unveiled
Barack and Michelle Obama have
attended the unveiling of their official portraits at Smithsonian's
National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.
Former US President
Obama said his portrait by Kehinde Wiley, who is known for his Old
Master-style depiction of African-Americans, was "pretty sharp".
"Wow!" said Mrs Obama of her painting by Amy Sherald, another black artist, whose work addresses social justice.
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks were among guests at the unveiling.
"Nobody in my family tree as far as I can tell had their portrait done," said Mr Obama.
He joked that his yearbook picture was the closest he had come to such an honour.
Mr Obama praised Ms Sherald's painting for capturing the "hotness" of his wife.
The former president said Mr Wiley was "working at a disadvantage because his subject was less becoming. Not as fly".
Ms Obama heaped praise on Ms Sherald's work.
"I'm thinking of all the girls of colour who will come and see
someone who looks like them hanging on the wall of this great American
Institution," said the former US first lady.
"And I know the kind of impact that will have on their lives," she continued, "because I was one of those girls."
Mr
Wiley painted Mr Obama in bright colours sitting in a garden, while Ms
Sherald depicted the former first lady in muted tones against a plain
background.
"The ability to be the first African-American painter
to paint the first African-American president of the United States was
absolutely overwhelming," said an emotional Mr Wiley.
"It doesn't get any better than that."
BBC
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