Smithsonian moves Michelle Obama portrait to larger space over high demand

[DonViejo]

BY JACQUELINE THOMSEN - 03/20/18 02:39 PM EDT

The Smithsonian Institution has relocated its official portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama to a larger space in the National Portrait Gallery because of a “high volume of visitors.”

Link to tweet

The portrait, by Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald, was unveiled last month, alongside one of former President Obama by Kehinde Wiley.

Visitors have poured into the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., since the Obamas’ portraits were installed.

About 176,000 people visited the museum last month, the largest number in a month in three years, CNN reported.

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http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/379353-smithsonian-moves-michelle-obama-portrait-to-larger-space-over

[Gothmog]

1. This is so very very appropriate

[Blue_Tires]

2. Wow... And all this time I thought it was the lesser of the two portraits...

[bdamomma]

3. She is to be admired.

She was quite the First Lady so humble and so caring. I loved how she got kids interested in gardening among other things.

[ornotna]

4. The potrait has it's detractors

But I absolutely love it. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[gratuitous]

6. The portrait is growing on me

I didn't care for the hair, but I've gotten past that, mostly.

Makes you wonder what the Third Lady's portrait is going to be after Trump leaves the White House. Will they base it on her nearly nekkid pose on the jet wing with the gun? The Smithsonian would probably wind up moving it to a much smaller room so each individual person could have some alone time with Melania's portrait.

[ornotna]

7. Ha!

Stick a dollar in the slot, the curtain opens and you get five minutes alone.

[erronis]

10. Really, you two. That is a ridiculous conversation. How about 2 minutes with Dump in private?

You have to put $100,000 into the slot and it you're really attractive you may get the remnants of a cheesey-bugger as a memento.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. He would himself be cheesy-burger after most women be done with him. Orange cheddar cheese. nt

[Skittles]

13. there's nothing wrong with the painting itself

it just does not look like Michelle, does not capture her AT ALL

looks how I imagine she would look with botox and fillers

[ornotna]

15. The colors are a little subdued

But I think it's a great likeness.

[Skittles]

16. sorry, I absolutely disagree

[ornotna]

17. That's ok

We can disagree without resorting to kick each others ass.

You're still aces in my book Skittles.

[Skittles]

18. she is such a stunning gal

I was expecting something better

I thought Barack's face was captured nicely, but that the portrait itself was hideous; Michelle's portrait is pretty but her personality is just not there

oh well

[Princess Turandot]

19. I think that the artist's style takes attention away from the subject...

...making it much more about the painting than the person. But M.O. knew what she was getting.

But at some point, official portraits of both of them will be hung in the White House itself, under the auspices of the White House Historical Association. (I'm not sure how the painter is selected.) The portraits of George and Laura Bush weren't installed until 5/2012. #44 conducted those proceedings, but I suspect that the Obamas will wait to do so until there's a more normal person in the WH. (And I doubt that the Association would disagree.)

[Skittles]

20. well I am glad someone else noticed

yup

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. I love the portrait!

So very powerful!

Great move, Smithsonian!

[saidsimplesimon]

8. Of course,

Michelle Obama is his "better half", imo.

[Bettie]

9. Good, she's a first lady to be proud of

and a woman we should all aspire to be more like.

[mcar]

12. K&R

[H2O Man]

14. Recommended.

I still have a photo of the Obama family hanging on the wall.