You can see the Obama Portraits at ‘Art On The Mart’on June 18, 2021 at 12:01 pm

You can see the Obamas’ larger-than-life portraits glow along the side of the Merchandise Mart building starting June 17 .

The animated projections of the famous Obama Portraits created by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald will light up at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. as part of the Art On TheMART’s summer program.

The projections can be seen from Wacker Drive and along the Chicago Riverwalk. A musical score will accompany the piece.

If you miss it this Thursday, don’t worry, the projections aren’t just a one-and-done. You can see them every night at that time until Sept. 16. Check out some displays from last year’s “Nutcracker”-themed presentation here.

The original paintings that inspire the projections will start their stay at the Art Institute of Chicago from June 18 until August 15. Tickets are free, with regular museum admission. You can learn more about available times to get tickets here.

The program’s content rotates seasonally, and along with the Obamas, Chicagoans can get a glimpse of the “Frida Kahlo: Timeless” exhibition, which is currently being shown at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage until Sept. 6.

The projections will feature several of Kahlo’s works including “Self Portrait with Small Monkey” (1945) and “Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress” (1926).

Like the Obamas’ portraits, Kahlo’s works will be accompanied by music with an orchestral score from Mexican composer Arturo Marquez, recorded by New Philharmonic.

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