Lisson Gallery Spotlights Obama Presidential Center Works by Jack Pierson, Spencer Finch
The Facts
On June 24, 2026, Lisson Gallery announced that artists Jack Pierson and Spencer Finch are among contributors to more than 28 commissioned art installations at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Pierson's "HOPE" (2025) is a metal-and-paint sculpture of found letters spelling President Barack Obama's defining campaign message. Finch's "Memory Landscape (Nairobi, Chicago, Honolulu, Jakarta)" (2025) is a tile wall mural inspired by places from Obama's formative years, with colors for each location selected personally by the former president. The works are located outdoors or in free public areas of the center's campus during operating hours.
The Signal
The commissions signal that the Obama Presidential Center is integrating contemporary art into its civic and educational mission, giving Lisson artists a high-visibility platform beyond the commercial gallery context. For collectors, inclusion in an institution of this kind can add historical and institutional resonance to an artist's market standing. Obama's direct involvement in selecting colors for Finch's mural ties the work to a specific biographical narrative, potentially deepening its significance within the broader landscape of contemporary public art.
- Artists: Jack Pierson, Spencer Finch
- People: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Obama Presidential Center
- Locations: Chicago
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