Existing comment:
Michelle O
Michelle Obama born 1964
Born Chicago, Illinois
Playfully titling this screenprint of the nation's first African American first lady Michelle O, Mickalene Thomas creates an implicit comparison between Michelle Obama's youthful, fashion-forward glamour and that of Jacqueline Kennedy. In addition to the extraordinary support she has lent to her husband's political career, Michelle Obama -- here depicted as personable, confident, and forthright -- is herself a Harvard-trained lawyer. Prior to her husband's election, she demonstrated her own impressive legal and administrative skills, building an influential career in Chicago devoted largely to stimulating and supporting public service. As first lady, Obama has continued to stress the importance of social issues and has put special focus on the challenge of eradicating childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise. In her husband's second term, she has launched new initiatives to urge Americans to continue their education beyond high school and to support service members, veterans, and their families.
Mickalene Thomas (born 1971)
Screenprint, 2008 |