It was Michelle Obama's first visit to the White House since Barack Obama's presidency ended in January 2017. Obama visited in April to help celebrate the anniversary of the major health care law he signed.
Robert McCurdy, the American artist whom Barack Obama selected to paint his official White House portrait, says the "stripped down" style of his works helps create an "encounter" between the person in the painting and the person looking at it.
The former first lady chose artist Sharon Sprung to do her portrait. She is depicted seated on a sofa in the Red Room, wearing a formal light blue dress.
Recent tradition, no matter political affiliation, has had the current president genially hosting his immediate predecessor for the unveiling — as Bill Clinton did for George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush did for Clinton and Obama did for the younger Bush.
