Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have commissioned Nigerian-American artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s portrait, which she created as the official portrait for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
The portrait forms part of a broader collection of artworks that the center is producing ahead of its official opening.
Who is Njideka Akunyuli Crosby?
Njideka Akunyili Crosby is one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of her generation. Major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Whitney Museum of American Art, hold her works in their permanent collections. 
In 1999, Njideka Akunyili Crosby won a green card lottery with her mother, Dora Akunyili, who was a renowned professor of pharmacology and later the Director General of NAFDAC.
Dora was immortalised for her heroic fight against counterfeit drugs. Later, after entering and winning the US Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, she enabled Njideka to leave Nigeria with her sister, Ijeoma. After a gap year spent preparing for the SATs and American history classes, Njideka returned to Nigeria for her National Youth Service before coming back to the US to start anew
She enrolled in her first oil painting class at a community college in Philadelphia, where her instructor, Jeff Reed, encouraged her to apply to Swarthmore College, leading to her acceptance. Njideka studied biology and art and eventually married Justin Crosby from Texas. She later pursued an MFA at Yale, building a career that redefined contemporary art.
She creates distinctive paintings that blend painting, drawing, collage, and photo-transfer techniques. Through these methods, she builds richly layered scenes that explore family life, identity, memory, and cultural experiences.
Njideka is the daughter of the late Dora Nkem Akunyili, one of Nigeria’s most respected public servants.
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Her mother, Dora Akunyili, was a pharmacist, professor, government administrator, and former Minister of Information. She earned national and international recognition for leading the fight against counterfeit drugs during her tenure as Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from 2001 to 2008. Her efforts helped strengthen drug regulation and protect millions of Nigerians from fake and dangerous medicines.
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Expressing her admiration for the artwork, Michelle Obama shared a heartfelt message celebrating Akunyili Crosby’s talent and the emotion she brought to the piece.
“Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too!”
Barack Obama also tweeted; “It was great joining Njideka Akunyili Crosby — a gifted Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based artist — to unveil our first portrait together. This piece reflects so many chapters of Michelle and my story, and we’re thrilled that it will be on display in the Hope and Change lobby at the Obama Presidential Center starting this Juneteenth.”
The commission marks another major milestone in Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s distinguished career and highlights the global impact of her artistic work.
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