
Past presidents have called it "the best public housing" and a "gilded cage".Īfter receiving either a high-profile invitation to an official event or clearance from a local representative for a tour, visitors to the mansion might be surprised at its modest scale, especially compared to the massive monuments and museums that sit a few blocks away. The presidential mansion has been a symbol of the US president's executive authority since John Adams and first lady Abigail moved in 218 years ago. Its iconic porticos, halls, and rooms have witnessed several administrations and countless guests, including tourists, celebrities, and heads of state. "Peter and I are endlessly grateful to my Nana and Pop for the opportunity to celebrate our wedding at the White House," Naomi Biden tweeted on April 4. Their wedding, which took place on the South Lawn, was the 19th wedding at the historic home. President Joe Biden's granddaughter, Naomi Biden, got married at the White House on November 19 to Peter Neal. The works displayed in the residence and offices, however, are chosen at the discretion of the President and First Lady, and it is in those private spaces that the Obamas unleashed their desire for a more diverse art program that underscores the message of an inclusive administration and closely hews to their own particular tastes.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. They include two of Josef Albers’s signature nested squares, a 1998 piece by Robert Rauschenberg, and a 1966 canvas by Alma Thomas, the first African-American woman artist represented in the White House.Īrt intended for the permanent collection goes through extensive vetting by Allman’s office as well as the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, an advisory board on which the First Lady serves as honorary chair. There, alongside a stately early-19th-century mahogany dining table and a sideboard once owned by Daniel Webster, the First Lady selected several American abstract works that were donated to the White House permanent collection. Obama’s behest, was opened for public viewing in 2015 for the first time in White House history. That delicate balancing act comes to life with particular eloquence in the redesign of the State Floor’s Old Family Dining Room, which, at Mrs. “He managed to introduce an array of abstract and contemporary artworks-particularly in the Obamas’ private rooms-without disrupting the gravitas and historic character of the building.” “Michael was sensitive to staying within the traditions of the White House while at the same time adding strategic modern touches,” Allman says. Smith had a more hands-on ally in William Allman, the curator of the White House. That immersion process extended to phone calls with Nancy Reagan and a lunch with Lee Radziwill, Mrs. “To understand the context, I read every letter and note from Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy, Sister Parish, Stéphane Boudin, Kaki Hockersmith-anyone who had ever contributed to the history of this building,” Smith says. Still, for all the talk about the comfort and ease of a young family, the Obamas and Smith were acutely aware of the symbolic resonance of any changes they made to the White House.

“They’re drawn to elegant, simple things.”

It was built in 2001 by Atlanta home builder Fred Milani, an. Notable examples include: Atlanta, Georgia: A 16,500-square-foot (1,530 m 2) model exists. (October 2011) Replicas of the White House are reproductions of the home of the president of the United States, the White House. “They’re very focused, and they laid out their preferences quite clearly,” he says. This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items. Smith began by sending the Obamas various design books-his own included-which they notated extensively. The Smith-Obama collaboration progressed in much the same way as any typical designer-client relationship. At the Treaty Room entrance, Sir Jacob Epstein’s 1946 bust of Winston Churchill stands on a circa-1810 New York card table.
