Vision and Voice: The Obamas as Patrons of American Art

Please join us for a celebration of Black History on Thursday, February 4, at 6:30 PM on Zoom and in the Library Auditorium. We will be joined by Jane Oneail, founder and president of Culturally Curious, for a presentation about the transformative Obama Presidency. This is an online program that will be streamed live in our Auditorium. Registration is required for online attendance. Barack and Michelle Obama didn’t just live in the White House – they transformed it into a showcase for contemporary American art and culture. This program explores the couple’s passionate engagement with the art world, from the groundbreaking official portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald to Mrs. Obama’s deliberate, history-making approach to fashion and its own art form. We’ll also look at the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, where the Obamas’ curatorial vision continues – including their first joint portrait. It’s a story about who gets represented, who gets to make the art, and what it means when the most powerful address in America opens its doors to new voices. Image: Njideka Akunyili Crosby, The Obamas: Springing Forth (2026. Commissioned by the Obama foundation, Obama Presidential Center, Chicago.) Jane Oneail is the founder of Culturally Curious, a company that curates and presents art appreciation programs. Jane Holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information, visit iamculturallycurious.com. For questions, call Sue Harmon at 603-624-6550 x7620 or email sharmon@manchesternh.gov Signup for this program is not required, but if you’d like a reminder email, you can sign up through our library calendar!