Reserve your spot! Now at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, visitors can see the stunning Obama portraits up close and in person from June 18 through August 14, 2022. The giant-scale Barack Obama as painted by Kehinde Wiley and Michelle Obama as painted by Amy Sherald are on loan from their home in the National Portrait Gallery. Learn about these portraits before you go >
Not only are these portraits historic for being of the first Black President and First Lady but Wiley and Sherald are the first African Americans to be commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery to create official portraits of a president or first lady. Called “pilgrimage paintings” by the museum’s curator, I get it. We are so lucky to have access to these beautiful works of art.
Seeing the Obama portraits is free with regular admission fees beginning on June 18; however, YOU WILL NEED A SPECIAL TIMED ADMISSION TICKET to access the small gallery room displaying the portraits.
Plan Your Visit to the de Young to see the Obama Portraits
Ticket Prices
Museum admission costs money. Seeing the special exhibit is no additional charge but does require a timed ticket.
Members: Free
Adults: $15 | 17 & Under: Free | Students (w/ valid ID): $6
Obama exhibit ticket: Free but requires a reservation and may not be available at all times
Obama portrait tickets will be released in two-week increments every other Wednesday.
- May 18, buy tickets for June 21 to July 5
- June 1, buy tickets for July 6 to July 19
- June 15, buy tickets for July 20 to August 2
- June 29, buy tickets for August 3 to August 14
Museum Hours:
Tuesday–Sunday 9:30 am–5:15 pm
Free Days: Opening Weekend (6/18-19) is free but already sold out. Saturdays are free to residents of the 9 Bay Area counties. First Tuesdays are free admission for all. More about free admission >
Parking can be tricky. There is a paid lot under the Cal Academy as well as street parking during non-peak visitation hours.
Location: Golden Gate Park \ 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
More to do at the de Young Museum for kids >
More to do in Golden Gate Park
The de Young is right next to the Japanese Tea Garden, SF Botanical Garden, Cal Academy of Science, and SkyStar Wheel. Or you can seek out additional adventures.
