Theaster Gates will create a major new artwork for the Obama Presidential Center. The renowned Chicago artist received a commission to design an installation celebrating Black women and beauty. His work will debut when the center opens in spring 2026.
Gates’s commission reflects his ongoing practice of elevating archives and everyday materials. The installation will occupy the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium within the Forum Building. This prominent location ensures visitors encounter his work as part of their presidential center experience.
The long, two-part frieze features images printed on aluminum alloy. Gates will draw primarily from the Johnson Publishing Company’s historic archive. His focus on Black women aims to demonstrate their contributions to American society. The installation adds to the cultural narrative of the nearly 20-acre South Side campus.
Drawing From Historic Johnson Publishing Company Archives
Gates sources material from significant historical outlets for this project. The Johnson Publishing Company archive provides a wellspring of amazing Black images. These photographs capture decades of Black American life, culture, and achievement.
“The palette that I use is often materials that I find in the world. They carry so many stories,” Gates explained in an Obama Foundation promotional video. His artistic practice involves working with photographs and archives deliberately. He seeks to arrest these histories and bring them forward compellingly.
The artist transforms everyday materials into powerful cultural statements. His approach elevates overlooked or undervalued historical documentation. Therefore, the Johnson Publishing archive serves as an ideal foundation for this commission.
Celebrating Black Women’s Contributions to American Society
Gates will specifically focus on Black women throughout the installation. His subject selection emphasizes their power and resilience in everyday life. The images will demonstrate Black contributions to America’s political, social, and economic fabric.
“I was really proud. The project will pull from this wellspring of amazing historic Black images, particularly the Johnson Publishing Company’s archive. I will focus on Black women,” Gates stated. His work highlights collective labor and community strength.
The installation’s subjects showcase Black women as central to American history. Gates’s artistic vision recognizes their often-underappreciated roles in building the nation. His commission ensures their stories receive prominent placement in this significant cultural institution.
Honoring Hadiya Pendleton Through Art and Memory
The installation will occupy the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium specifically. This space carries deep meaning for Chicago and the nation. The area honors a Chicago teenager whose life was tragically cut short.
Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Barack Obama’s second inauguration parade in 2013. Shortly after that proud moment, she died from gun violence. Her death devastated the Chicago community and highlighted ongoing violence issues.
Naming the atrium after Pendleton ensures her memory lives on powerfully. Gates’s installation in this space adds another layer of meaning. The celebration of Black women’s resilience takes on added significance in a space honoring a young Black girl’s lost potential.
Integrating Art Throughout Presidential Center’s Civic Spaces
The Obama Foundation prioritized art integration throughout the presidential center. Gates’s commission exemplifies this mission across the facility’s design. Art serves as more than decoration—it becomes part of the educational experience.
The Obama Presidential Center includes multiple components serving different functions. A museum, library, and education space occupy the nearly 20-acre campus. Community spaces encourage ongoing civic engagement with presidential history.
Gates’s work contributes to the center’s broader cultural and civic narrative. His installation ensures visitors encounter art that reflects the communities surrounding them. The presidential center becomes a place where history, art, and community intersect meaningfully.
Building on Gates’s Legacy of Cultural Preservation
Gates is a Chicago native with deep roots in community development. He founded the Rebuild Foundation to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage. His work consistently combines art, architecture, and social impact.
His community-driven projects include the Stony Island Arts Bank transformation. The Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative represents another significant preservation effort. Gates uses architecture to highlight overlooked cultural treasures and histories.
These previous projects demonstrate his commitment to South Side Chicago. His Obama Presidential Center commission continues this important work. Gates brings his unique vision to one of Chicago’s most significant new cultural institutions.
Transforming Everyday Materials Into Cultural Legacy
Gates’s artistic practice centers on finding beauty in overlooked materials. He elevates archives and everyday objects to celebrate Black cultural legacy. This approach makes history accessible and tangible for audiences.
“I’m often playing with photographs and archives to try to arrest all of these histories and bring them forward and make them interesting,” Gates shared. His curatorial eye identifies materials that carry powerful stories. He transforms these materials into installations that educate and inspire.
The aluminum alloy printing process gives historic photographs new life. Modern materials meet historical imagery to create something timeless. Gates’s technical choices ensure the installation withstands time while honoring the past.
Opening Spring 2026 on Chicago’s Historic South Side
The Obama Presidential Center will open its doors in spring 2026. The South Side Chicago location carries tremendous historical significance. This predominantly Black neighborhood helped shape President Obama’s political philosophy and career.
Gates’s installation will greet visitors from the moment the center opens. His work becomes part of the founding narrative of this institution. The celebration of Black women provides an appropriate tone for the space.
“It was amazing that I was tapped to create a permanent installation at the Obama Center,” Gates stated proudly. His commission furthers his lifelong commitment to bringing together art, history, and architecture. The spring 2026 opening will reveal how his vision honors Black women’s beauty, strength, and essential contributions to America. Visitors will experience a powerful artistic statement about resilience, community, and the enduring legacy of Black women in shaping the nation’s story.