Michelle Obama Stops by Husband Barack's Presidential Portrait During D.C. Gala
Michelle Obama took a break on Sunday from her appearance at a fundraising gala to admire husband Barack Obama‘s presidential portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The former first lady, 55, was in D.C. on Sunday night presenting composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda with the Portrait of a Nation Prize. According to a sweet photo she shared on Instagram, she stopped by President Obama’s portrait while she was there.
Her Instagram post shows her looking on at the painting with her hands folded and — in lieu of 1,000 words — includes a simple heart-emoji caption.
The Obamas married in 1992 and shared eight years together in the White House as America’s first couple along with their two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
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With the release of bestselling memoir Becoming last fall, followed by a hugely popular book tour, Mrs. Obama has been opening up about life in the spotlight and her marriage to President Obama, 58.
Among the revelations, Mrs. Obama said on The Tonight Show while promoting the book that she had been to marriage counseling in an attempt to “fix” her husband.
“Because we’re role models,” she told PEOPLE last November, “it’s important for us to be honest and say, ‘If you’re in a marriage and there are times you want to leave, that’s normal’ — because I felt that way.”
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President Obama’s portrait, unveiled in February 2018 along with his wife’s, was painted by Nigerian-American artist Kehinde Wiley and depicted him sitting in front of foliage that’s representative of his roots, including chrysanthemums (Chicago’s official flower) and jasmine (a flower that’s common in Hawaii, where he spent much of his childhood).
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Mrs. Obama’s portrait was painted by Amy Sherald and shows her posed against a light-blue background, chin rested on her hand, her black-and-white dress (with bits of color) filling the bottom of the frame.
Both works have drawn numerous visitors — including a 3-year-old girl whose admiration went viral.
