Idris Khan has been selected as one of ten internationally renowned artists commissioned for the Obama Presidential Center’s landmark art program.
Khan will debut "Sky of Hope", an immersive, site-specific painting created for the Museum’s Skyroom. From the ceiling’s apex, thousands of hand-stamped words from President Obama’s Selma speech—also inscribed on the building’s façade—radiate outward, forming a contemplative environment that invites reflection on democracy, resilience, and the enduring power of the public voice.
Khan’s work will be part of a visionary group of new commissions by artists including Nick Cave, Nekisha Durrett, Jenny Holzer, Jules Julien, Aliza Nisenbaum, Jack Pierson, Alison Saar, Kiki Smith, and Marie Watt. Together, their works will transform the 19-acre Obama Presidential Center into a vibrant cultural hub opening in Spring 2026.
Khan will debut "Sky of Hope", an immersive, site-specific painting created for the Museum’s Skyroom. From the ceiling’s apex, thousands of hand-stamped words from President Obama’s Selma speech—also inscribed on the building’s façade—radiate outward, forming a contemplative environment that invites reflection on democracy, resilience, and the enduring power of the public voice.
Khan’s work will be part of a visionary group of new commissions by artists including Nick Cave, Nekisha Durrett, Jenny Holzer, Jules Julien, Aliza Nisenbaum, Jack Pierson, Alison Saar, Kiki Smith, and Marie Watt. Together, their works will transform the 19-acre Obama Presidential Center into a vibrant cultural hub opening in Spring 2026.
Spring 2026
