US artists Spencer Finch and Lindsay Adams have been commissioned to create new installations for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is set to open in early 2026. Finch will produce a 70-foot-long tiled mural for the Forum building's lobby, inspired by Barack Obama's memoir *Dreams from My Father*, while Adams will adapt a 2024 painting into fabric panels for the center's public café. The commissions are led by museum director Louise Bernard and curator Virginia Shore, who are building a collection of approximately 20 public artworks for the campus, including pieces by Julie Mehretu, Richard Hunt, and Maya Lin.
This commission matters because it marks a significant investment in public art tied to a major presidential institution, reflecting how the Obama Presidential Center is integrating contemporary American artists into its narrative and physical spaces. The project, costing over $200 million, underscores the role of art in shaping the legacy and public experience of presidential libraries, while also highlighting Chicago's cultural landscape and the careers of artists like Finch and Adams.