The Obamas Unveiled Their Official Portraits Today And Twitter Is Freaking Out

The official portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama were unveiled earlier today at the National Portrait Gallery - to mixed reviews. The works are anything but conventional. Both Barack and Michelle opted to choose black American artists to capture their likeness. Barack went with Kehinde Wiley, and is painted looking pensive, nearly lost in foliage.

Michelle was painted by Baltimore based Amy Sherald, who is known for painting her subjects' skin in greyscale as an attempt to move the focus from color. While it's unsurprising that Michelle would make such a pointed choice, many people are arguing that the mostly-grey image does not do her justice. Some are even complaining that it looks nothing like her.

Aside from the criticism, netizens are definitely having a field day over Barack's portrait. References to the Simpsons and Sean Spicer abound, as do "bush" puns. We're here for it.

Posted by Ada Elder

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Via NPR
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There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.

Via @BillColona
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Michelle Obama is an elegant lady and the portrait looks nice. But clearly, the artist drew someone else. pic.twitter.com/659jRDHY33
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) February 12, 2018

Via @EugeneGu
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LOVE the new portrait of Michelle Obama pic.twitter.com/c4OXHhFOw6
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 12, 2018

Via @BenShapiro
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Ugh...does not do a powerful, beautiful woman justice
— OuisieM 🦀 🟧 (@OuisieM) February 12, 2018

Via @OuisieM
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There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.

Via @Bazooka713
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Wow quite a presidential portrait Obama pic.twitter.com/GlvljHSBVR
— Chicago Reader (@Chicago_Reader) February 12, 2018

Via @Chicago_Reader
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There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.

Via @BobbyBigWheel
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There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.

Via @seanpagal
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spicey pic.twitter.com/p0QCaLW3qk
— america's lounge singer (@KrangTNelson) February 12, 2018

Via @KrangTNelson
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There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.

Via @TalkingSchmidt
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#KehindeWiley 's #Obama painting when fashion week hits pic.twitter.com/2oSrIwqWTF
— Camilo Caffi 🇨🇱 (@_caffi) February 12, 2018

Via @caffi07
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Is anyone else getting a Beyoncé vibe off Obama’s portrait? pic.twitter.com/FkcNVIVtte
— Surlymom (@Surly_Mom) February 12, 2018

Via @Surly_Mom
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nice of him to honor his predecessors, the bushes https://t.co/A9XJOrDXCG
— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) February 12, 2018

Via @aedwardslevy
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Obama's new portrait looks awfully familiar... pic.twitter.com/S5wenGJTPq
— Colleen Wordock (@cwordock) February 12, 2018

Via @cwordock