Chicago's Obama Presidential Center has art at its core

"The building was designed vertically to minimise its footprint in the park, and thus 'lends itself as a beacon on the landscape'."

"The forthcoming museum has commissioned more than 25 site-specific works, most of them by artists who have close ties to Chicago."

"'The museum speaks to the metaphor of ascension, of a movement from the grassroots to a sense of collective action.'"

"'We sought to balance luminary figures with more emerging artists who will become established figures over time.'"

The Obama Presidential Center, an $850 million museum, will open on June 19, 2023, in Chicago's Jackson Park. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the eight-storey building integrates with the landscape and features over 25 site-specific art commissions. The museum aims to reflect Obama's journey from community organizer to president, symbolizing grassroots movements. Director Louise Bernard emphasizes the building's vertical design as a beacon, while curators balance established and emerging artists in their exhibitions, enhancing the cultural landscape of the area.

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