A rendering of the Obama Presidential Center

By CGN Staff

The Obama Foundation has revealed ten new artist commissions for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, slated to open in spring 2026 in Jackson Park. The expansive 19.3-acre campus will include a museum, public library, gardens, and community spaces—and will feature over 25 site-specific works of art, most free and open to the public.

Diverse, Global Voices with Chicago Roots

The newly announced artists bring a dynamic cross-section of contemporary art:

• Nick Cave & Marie Watt – This Land, Shared Sky, a monumental textile installation combining Indigenous and Black traditions (Museum Main Lobby).
• Nekisha Durrett – Hem of Heaven, a freestanding sculpture of thousands of ceramic tiles reimagining Harriet Tubman’s shawl (Forum Courtyard).
• Jenny Holzer – Text-based painting memorializing the Civil Rights–era Freedom Riders (Museum Skyroom Vista).
• Jules Julien – A digital mural of eleven illustrations on democratic participation (Museum Level 5 & Civics Gallery).
• Idris Khan – Sky of Hope, an immersive ceiling painting of thousands of words from President Obama’s Selma speech (Museum Skyroom).
• Aliza Nisenbaum – Reading Circles/ Weaving Dreams/ Seeding Futures, a sweeping mural celebrating libraries as civic spaces (Library Main Reading Room).
• Jack Pierson – A found-letter word sculpture spelling HOPE, echoing Obama’s signature campaign message (Museum Entry Pavilion).
• Alison Saar – Torch Song, a towering bronze figure inspired by the Statue of Liberty and Chicago blues (Women’s Garden).
• Kiki Smith – Receive, a celestial bronze celebrating our shared connection to the cosmos (Museum Hope & Change Lobby).

These artists join a distinguished roster already announced—Lindsay Adams, Spencer Finch, Richard Hunt, Maya Lin, and Julie Mehretu—with more to come.

Art as Civic Catalyst

“Art has the power to reflect who we are and to shape who we aspire to become,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. “These extraordinary commissions will invite every visitor to feel inspired, respected, and connected.”

Dr. Louise Bernard, founding director of the Center’s Museum, added that each commission is “a meditation on civic life…speaking to resilience, memory, identity, and hope.”

Curated by Virginia Shore (Shore Art Advisory), the program underscores the Obamas’ belief in the arts as central to democracy—an extension of their White House legacy of welcoming diverse voices and creative practices.

The Obama Presidential Center is planned to open in spring 2026 and is envisioned as a vibrant cultural hub and gathering space. Alongside the museum and library, the site will feature a fruit and vegetable garden, athletic center, and sweeping public grounds designed for both neighborhood and global visitors. Through art installations, performances, workshops, and conversations, the Center aims to inspire creativity and civic engagement across generations.

obama.org