Julie Mehretu's 83-Foot Glass Tower Transforms Obama Presidential Center
Drawing inspiration from Obama’s 2015 Selma speech and her personal ties to Chicago.
The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, began shaping its defining structure—a granite-clad tower housing a monumental art installation. Julie Mehretu’s Uprising of the Sun, an 83-foot-tall glass tower, has been mounted on the north facade of the building. Comprising 35 painted glass panels, the piece reflects Mehretu’s exploration of historical movements like the Civil Rights era and Chicago’s own role in shaping social change. Inspired by figures like Barack Obama and John Lewis, the artwork merges these moments with visual references from Robert S. Duncanson, Jacob Lawrence, and Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle.
The artist drew from diverse inspirations, including Obama’s 2015 Selma speech and her personal connection to the Midwest and Chicago. The tower’s layers and colors are designed to immerse visitors in a visual dialogue about history, ascension, and transformation. Mehretu told The Art Newspaper, “I wanted to honor Chicago’s history and President Obama’s legacy by telling a story about how change happens.”
Mehretu’s work is part of a broader vision for the center, which will serve as a community and civic engagement hub. Featuring a public library, gardens, and multiple art commissions, the center aims to inspire future leaders. Altogether, the installation is part of the center’s mission to inspire civic engagement. “President and Mrs. Obama believe that art is an essential part of inspiring the next generation of leaders,” says Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation.
