New First Lady Michelle Obama's first portrait

W magazine recently commissioned  a portrait of Michelle Obama by Elizabeth Peyton.

Now it’s on view at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York  until January 11.

Laura Hoptman,  curator of "Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton,” (which opened Oct 8) decided that the nonpartisan museum would hang the portrait only if Barack Obama won the election.

Which he did, in a bit of a landslide.

Peyton has painted John Lennon, Prince William and others and is known for giving her subjects an androgynous appearance.

This portrait was done from a photo of Sasha Obama resting on Michelle’s lap at the DNC, listening to her dad speak.

What do you think?

Do you like the first commissioned portrait of our newly elected First Lady?

Photo: W Magazine.

Comments

[Carly]

She looks bored out of her mind and Sasha is soooo ready for this to be over - too bad, you're in for a whole lot more of daddy rambling on and on and on!

[Gerald Spencer]

This is not a commissioned portrait in the real sense of the word commissioned. The Obama's did not commission it nor did the Executive branch of the US Government. Please, avoid false advertising.

[dudeman1961]

what's itstitle? "sourpuss'?

[Sean K]

People like Carly are truly pathetic. Can't even let an article about art slip by without a dig at Obama. No matter how well he leads, people like this will never give him credit. Wallowing in you bitter resentment doesn't help our country.

[Walter]

This is not an Obama-endorsed painting. It's pretty lame, as is most of Peyton's work. If you want to publish a really commissioned portrait, you should print Shepard Fairey's iconic "Hope" image.

When the Obama's do commission a White House portrait, I hope they go with an African-American artist like Kehinde Wiley.

[Amber]

Mixed feelings. Michelle is painted with an androgynous quality, almost like a pixie looking caucasian adolescent with brown pigment. That said, I love what Peyton brings, be it high fashion art, pop culture's over exposed faces, a White lense...
I love it, I guess. Truly conflicted but I know I will be thinking about it all day.

[Aralion]

Michelle Obama and her family has such a beautiful smiles. For the first portrait to show her looking so dour does not do her justice. If not smiling, at least have a portrait showing her more upbeat. They both look so bored!

[michael swofford]

Wow, what a lifeless, dull painting. Obviously traced from a photograph and poorly colored in. Phony.

[Tarn Helm]

Ugly.

If the goal was to make her look evil and hideous, then the goal was achieved.

Just terrible.

[lesliee]

This "comissioned" artwork borderlines insulting to the Obama family.

Extremely inaccurate and depressing...

[stan]

There is good art and bad art, This is BAD art. As the saying goes 'hey it looks OK from my house'
Another I wanna be famous scam!

[Brock]

The painting is a wholly inaccurate depiction of the Michelle I've seen. In the painting she and her daughter look apathetic and pissed off; in life she is vivacious, engaged, and loving.

[Ageepoo]

Carly and others,
Don't walk lost through a tunnel for many years, and see a light at the end of the tunnel, thinking there's a train attached coming full speed. Think again (positive). The light just might be sunlight, and you will be rescued. Think positive my friend. Negativity is worthless.

[Laura]

Michelle looks okay but her daughter looks very angry. I wonder if Peyton would like a painting of her child with an expression like that on her face.

[Nana Richie]

Not really appealing. Kindly give it another shot.

[Rachel]

Michelle's face doesn't look right but the youngest daughter does resemble her quite a bit. Sasha looks more tired and ready to go home. The painting is drab!

[cfc]

This is a horrendous portrait. They are painted to look angry, and angrier than in person. What is the point of having an "androgynous" portrait in this kind of circumstance which could hardly have less to do with androgyny? The museum should honor their commitment to hang the picture, but with a caption "WTF ?"

[Isabella]

Even in a work of art, race has to be metioned?!?. SEAN K, do you think an African American will do any better. It's her style of painting, not the color of her skin. Get over it!!! I never liked her work, I think her painting's are absolutely ugly and in this case it is no exception.

[T.M.Lewis]

Please discourage this "look". It is bad enough to see the choice of dress on election night. Please encourage our new first lady to dress in a fashion, respectful of the office and our country.

[ouch08!!!]

Elizabeth Snead is a person without taste. This is not a portrait but a candid shot at the DNC. Try dishing something delicious. I have a very ugly imagination of your brain.

[Carol]

It's unflattering and ill-advised. In no photographic image I've seen has the First Lady-to-be looked this bad. I don't know if the image was intended to look as it does or if the artist's talent dictated that it could look no better but it's really incredibly unattractive.

[Jamil]

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aD16nd5771A1/340x.jpg

Link to actual photo.

[Linda]

Actually the portrait depicts Michelle 's inner self quite well.

[Painter from California]

I have watched Elizabeth Peyton's career for at least 5 years with complete bewilderment. The art world has turned into a media driven popularity contest without substance. A lot of Emperor's New Clothes..
Elizabeth's work reminds me of first year art school students work. Very poorly executed..portraits that are one liners. Painting a famous portrait in this illustrative style is like reading glamour magazines. Very fickle and shallow. Unfortunately the curators are all looking for a new schtick artist to make their careers. The question I have is "what powerful person is promoting her career"?

[Marcia]

I wish Michelle had hired a professional with some talent to do her portrait.
This painter's brushes should be taken away.
She's dangerous with a brush...not to mention insulting to her subject!
Michelle,do another sitting with a professional...or at least someone with talent!