Michelle Obama

As the presidential portraits were revealed on Monday, the former First Lady had one of her own; the six-by-five-foot “ ‘Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama,’ oil on linen, 2018.” When I first looked at the portrait I could not see the true resemblance of Michelle Obama. It does not seem as quite intricate in detail as former president Barack Obama's portrait. Amy Sherald was the artist who created the portrait and she is very well known for her grayscale on skin tone, to exclude the idea of race to make a statement. The dress is one of Michelle's favorite dresses, because it is simple, conceptual, and "forward thinking" just like her; also the shapes reminded Sherald of Mondrian, and the diligent quilt-making of the black women artisans of Gee’s Bend, Alabama.