Rashid Johnson
Photo: Joshua Woods
The Obama Foundation has announced a major new commission by GRAY artist Rashid Johnson for the forthcoming opening of the Obama Presidential Center in June 2026.
The commission, Rashid Johnson, Broken Men, is a large-scale mosaic in the Teaching Kitchen drawn from Johnson’s ongoing series of the same name, which renders the multifaceted and complicated nature of lived experience through abstract figures whose ambiguous, wide-eyed expressions invite viewers to contemplate the universal resonance within the human condition.
From its inception, the Obama Presidential Center envisioned the arts as a core part of its mission. This commitment builds upon the legacy that President and Mrs. Obama instilled at the White House, making it the “People’s House” by opening its doors to diverse voices, disciplines, and perspectives. This commission joins previously announced work by GRAY artist Theaster Gates.