Carol Vogel called the relevant parties in the choice of art for the White House and got these quotes. Michael Smith is the celebrity decorator who works with the first couple and Harry Cooper is the National Gallery’s curator or Contemporary art:

“We have one rule: We won’t take anything off public display,” Mr. Cooper said in a telephone interview. Nor will the museum lend a work likely to be requested for an exhibition anytime soon. “That limited us to looking at things in storage,” Mr. Cooper added. “But there’s quite a bit.”Continue Reading

ABC News has the Obamas’ art requests for the White House. It appears that everyone at the National Gallery was in a tizzy of joy because the Obamas wanted Contemporary art. There are also some African American artists in the group like Alma Thomas, whose Watusi from 1963 is pictured left (click on the image to go to The Independent’s gallery of the Obama pictures>)

Though the NGA’s own man called the first couple’s taste mainstream:

Harry Cooper, a Trader of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Art says the Obamas chosen collection has what those in the art world call “wall power.” “A lot of it is really important and pretty powerful. It has wall power. […] Strong works which are visually arresting.” Continue Reading