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The Arts stories

The image is an in motion picture of a person break dancing on the street. The image is outside on a city street. In the background is a brick wall with a signs on it. In the picture are several people, surrounding the breakdancer, as they dance on the street. The breakdancer, who is in the center of the picture, is standing on one hand with their feet in the air. The dancer has on a orange, pink, yellow, and white sleeveless crop top, blue jeans, and grey sneakers. Around the picture are bubbles throughout the air.
  • Alumni
  • Stories

Explore the world of three Obama alumni harnessing the power of art to inspire action in their communities

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A closeup of Julie Mehretu’s glass installation, “Uprising of the Sun.”
  • First Look
  • Building the Center

Discover over 20 art installations that will stimulate creativity and inspire people to bring change home.

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Julie Mehretu, a woman with a light skin tone and short curly black hair, stands in between two carts full of paint and art supplies. She is wearing red metallic pants.
  • Building the Center
  • First Look

Julie Mehretu's 83-foot-high installation is inspired by President Obama’s remarks at the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

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A group of students with medium-light to medium-dark skin tones, wearing khaki pants and a variety of hair styles, stand in front of a white building that reads “Mielle” and a graphic of a woman with long black hair on the wall.
  • Programs
  • Equality

The Obama Foundation Futures Series exposes high school students to career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders.

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama is seated while holding a microphone and sporting long box braids. She is seated in front of signage that says “Futures Series” with the Obama Foundation logo.
  • Programs
  • Equality

The Obama Foundation Futures Series exposes high school students to career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders.

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President Obama sits in a circle and speaks to Leaders with a range of ages and light to medium skin tones. His arms are outstretched. He is wearing a gray button up.
  • Obama Picks
  • Barack Obama

Check out President Obama’s summer list of top picks: books and music.

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Watch Meeting—Dec. 31st 1862—Waiting for the Hour by William Tolman Carlton (1863)
  • Watch
  • Equality

Take a look at how President Obama honored this chapter of American history.

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The image is a combination of the headshots of Jessica Teal, Laura Olin, and Jeron Smith. From [L to R]: The first person is Jessica Teal: she has pale skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and is wearing a red short-sleeved shirt. She is smiling at the camera. The second person is Jeron Smith: he has brown skin, closely cut black hair, and a mustache. He is wearing a dark blazer with a white t-shirt underneath. In the background of Jeron's headshot is an industrial set with orange lighting and tall metal beams. The third person is Laura Olin: she has pale skin, blue eyes, and blond hair that hits her shoulders. She is wearing a blue and white shirt and smiling at the camera. Behind Laura are green trees.
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni

Meet the minds behind the design, voice, and digital strategy for the Obama campaign and White House.

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A group of high school students with a range of light to deep skin tones pose around Gallerist Easy Otabo and artist Michael C. Thorpe. In the background, a monitor displays the Obama Foundation rising sun logo and reads, “Obama Foundation.”
  • Youth
  • Futures Series

See how the students explored expression and possibilities at EXPO Chicago.

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Kori Coleman, a Black woman with a deep skin tone, stands in the middle of a four person string quartet. They are a range of medium to deep skin tones and are holding a viola, violin, and cello. All are wearing shades of brown. Credit: Seed Lynn
  • Leaders
  • Chicago

Ahead of her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, hear how one Obama Leader leverages the power of music to educate, entertain, and heal her community.

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missing
  • Youth
  • MBK Alliance

The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance released a Black History Month reading list for young leaders

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Brandon Breaux, a Black man with a deep skin tone, stands over five seated students. On the table is an iPad and illustrations. He is wearing a mint beanie. Space art is on the wall in the background.
  • First Look
  • Chicago

Artist Brandon Breaux and Dyett High School students showcase the power of culture and community.

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President Obama poses for a photo with Guitars Over Guns participants. He is surrounded by 17 others with a range of light to deep skin tones.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth

Learn more about Nathan, his experience at Guitars Over Guns, and his plans for the future.

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Raven Smith, a Black woman with a medium skin tone, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a long sleeved white shirt and red plaid pants. Her arms are crossed and she has long black hair.
  • Youth
  • Chicago

Young Chicagoan Raven Smith created the t-shirt company Straight From The GO – All Good Things From ChicaGO to dispel negative perceptions about violence in Chicago

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A large visual of "2022" with blue and green ombre numbers and white background.
  • Stories
  • Programs

As we reflect on this year, we couldn’t be more proud of the work of our global network of leaders who are tackling some of the most vital issues of our time and working together to strengthen their communities and our institutions.

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President Barack Obama, dressed in a black suit with a grey tie, stands prominently at the center of the canvas.
  • Watch
  • Presidential History

Gathered together in the East Room of the White House, President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden presented the official portraits of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively.

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President Obama is shown shaking the hand of a young man with a deep skin tone while surrounded 
by other women with deep and medium skin tones.
  • Alumni
  • The Obama Administration

This Obama alum is using stories from our past to help communities move forward today.

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A man with a light medium toned and a mix of white and grey hair, works on a wooden piece of art. His face is covered by a plastic face mask.
  • Building the Center
  • In-depth

World-renowned sculptor and artist Richard Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

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(1980) Chicago Defender photographer, Antonio Dickey photographing dancer Tarin Springs practicing dance routine.
  • Presidential History
  • Chicago

Sometimes history is shaped not by the famous figures in front of the camera, but by someone behind it.

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 President Obama and Michelle Obama stand outside during the day shaking hands with youth. They have a ranging of medium to deep skin tones
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

Revisit the highlights from our work in 2021, which included breaking ground on the Obama Presidential Center, recognizing important milestones from President and Mrs. Obama’s time in office, empowering and connecting leaders around the world, and more.

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Pooja poses in her studio with her large paintings in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Equality

As a visual artist in Chicago’s vibrant art community, Pooja Pittie is on a life-long journey to accept the unexpected obstacles in her life, while advocating for better representation and support for artists with disabilities.

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President Obama, his family, and thousands of people, and John Lewis cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge hand in hand.
  • Watch
  • Building the Center

Watch talented Chicago poet Leslé Honoré recite "Bridges," a poem inspired by the powerful speech President Obama delivered on the 50th anniversary of the marches from Montgomery to Selma. An excerpt from the speech will appear on the exterior of the Obama

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The White House portrait of President Obama sitting down in front of a background with flowers. He is wearing an all black suit with a white button up shirt.
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama

Artists Kehinde Wiley of Brooklyn, New York, and Amy Sherald of Baltimore, Maryland, were selected to paint President Obama and Mrs. Obama respectively

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President Obama looks at the Norman Rockwell painting, "The Problem We All Live With," just hung in the Outer Oval Office, June 22, 2011.
  • Presidential History
  • Watch

During their eight years in office, President and Mrs. Obama recognized and embraced the power of art.

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A man stands in the spray of a fire hydrant.
  • Chicago
  • Changemakers

In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, we sat down with Mateo Zapata, a Chicago-based photographer documenting the public health crisis, the ways it’s disproportionately affecting his community, and the systemic inequality it has brought to light.

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Will Calloway
  • Watch
  • Chicago

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Will Calloway became all too familiar with the disinvestment and systemic discrimination that create the conditions for gun violence to surface. 

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Christopher LeMark, a Black man with a medium skin tone stands in front of a large group of people as they pose for a picture. All have a range of light to deep skin tones. Each person is wearing a brown crew neck that reads, “Coffee, Hip-Hop, & Mental Health.”
  • Watch
  • Health & Wellbeing

Discover how Christopher LeMark uses coffee and Hip-Hop to help heal communities-–and how you can get involved!

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Tye Moores laughs and smiles.
  • Chicago
  • Changemakers

When we wanted to lift up the stories of Antonio Davis, Asiaha Butler, and Kemdah Stroud—three grassroots leaders working on the South Side of Chicago to make a difference—we turned to Chicago-based artist and photographer Tyesha Moores.

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  • Watch
  • Chicago

Activist and violence interrupter William Calloway grew up in South Shore, the same Chicago neighborhood where Michelle Obama was born and raised, and the future home of the Obama Presidential Center. See how Will is protecting his community while challeng

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Leo Mercer - Young Leader Spotlight
  • MBK Alliance
  • Changemakers

Meet Leo Mercer! Leo is an artist and community organizer, born and raised in Oakland, California.

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A piece of Mrs Obama is pictured on a white plate.
  • Michelle Obama
  • Obama Picks

Now you can make the former first lady’s holiday favorite at home!

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missing
  • Chicago
  • Community Engagement

From attending crucial city council meetings to sharing their hopes for their communities at events and dinners across the city, our neighbors are helping us bring the Obama Presidential Center and our work in Chicago to life.

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missing
  • Stories
  • Programs

When we look back at 2018, we see all of you: emerging leaders who are embarking on journeys of change throughout the world

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Authors Zadie Smith, Yaa Gyasi, and Courtney Martin sit down for a conversation on representation through literature, and how they write the fiction they hope to see in the world.
  • Global Reach
  • Health & Wellbeing

Whether around the campfire or on the screen, we have always used stories to help us make sense of the world.

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An illustration of four people with a range of light to deep skin tones lifting one another up on top of a paper plane. The background is pink.

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