This one was a dream come true for American artist Gilbert Young, when he presented a double portrait of president Barack Obama at the Annual NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) convention in Ohio. And the president liked it so much that he specially signed the portrait.
Says Young, “The President liked my portrait and said ‘You have made me look good’. And when I handed my card to president Obama, he said he knew my work and it was all worth it. He told the crowd that I was a legend. I felt I’d received the greatest honour of my artistic life.”
Young is looking at Indian collectors and the Indian art market to sell this work of his. He has also hired an Indian-owned Singapore-based investment company. Young confirms, “India is one of the most progressive countries in the world today and I think there are many real art lovers in the country.”
He adds, “Also, I personally like Indian art — it is culturally driven and extremely rich in heritage. One of my favourite Indian artists is Amrita Shergill and it’s unfortunate that she died young.” Ask him why he wants to sell this painting? “I feel it is important to give back to the communities, organisations and all the support forces that have been with me until here,” he explains.
Young was asked to create the portrait to present to him at the convention. “Through this portrait I am trying to portray the hope that president Obama has given the world.”
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