In these times of challenge, the search for hope spans the globe — from Southwark in London to the South Side of Chicago, from Warsaw to Ghana. People everywhere are calling for more equal societies, greater representation of diverse experiences, and the power to shape their own lives and communities.
It is in this spirit that the Omenaa Foundation and OmenaArt Foundation have announced their continued support for the Obama Presidential Center, set to open in Chicago in 2026. Designed as a space to inspire hope, creativity, and civic action, the Obama Presidential Center will serve as a global hub for education, culture, community empowerment, and democracy.
In partnership with White Cube, one of the world’s most influential contemporary art galleries, the Omenaa Foundation hosted an intimate lunch and private viewing at White Cube Bermondsey in London. The gathering brought together members of the UK arts community and international guests to celebrate selected artists commissioned for the Obama Presidential Center’s permanent collection — including the late Richard Hunt and Julie Mehretu — and to discuss the power of art, philanthropy, and strategic giving in shaping a more inclusive and compassionate world.
“Our mission has always been to use culture and education as tools for empowerment. Supporting the Obama Presidential Center is a natural extension of our work. We are proud to stand alongside the Obama Foundation and White Cube in celebrating art as a catalyst for hope and social change. We believe that art not only inspires but activates — sparking meaningful dialogue and motivating people to shape the world they want to live in,”
said Omenaa Mensah, Founder and President of the Omenaa Foundation.
Jay Jopling, Founder and Chairman of White Cube, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, noting that:
“It is an honor to work alongside the Omenaa Foundation and the Obama Foundation to present these visionary artists, whose work will become part of the Obama Presidential Center’s legacy and opportunity. This collaboration embodies the belief that art can drive understanding, inclusion, and progress.”
The Obama Presidential Center will stand as a global beacon for hope and change — reflecting on historic progress while celebrating those carrying the baton of change into the future. Beyond its civic mission, the Center will be a cultural institution and museum that showcases powerful works of art and objects embodying the Obama Foundation’s mission: to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world.
Spanning 19 acres, the campus will include a fruit and vegetable garden, an auditorium, a playground, a Chicago Public Library branch, and a ‘Home Court’ facility to host sports, community programs, and other events. The museum experience will highlight the accomplishments and challenges of the Obama presidency, honoring the historical figures who made President and Mrs. Obama’s stories possible, while inspiring visitors to take action in their own communities.
As an arts destination, the Center will feature over 25 signature art commissions by diverse artists from around the world, integrated into public spaces throughout the campus. Dynamic programming will continue to activate these installations, inspired by President and Mrs. Obama’s legacy of transforming the White House into the “People’s House” — open to diverse voices and perspectives.
“The Obama Presidential Center will be a gathering place for global, national, and local leaders; a hub for democratic innovation; and a beacon of hope for the world,”
said Dr. Louise Bernard, Founding Museum Director at the Obama Presidential Center.
With White Cube, the Omenaa Foundation and OmenaArt Foundation celebrated artists who are already collaborating with the Obama Foundation and who will feature prominently at the Center.
“At Omenaa Foundation and OmenaArt Foundation, we are deeply committed to connecting culture and education with purpose. As a supporting partner of the Obama Foundation, it’s an honor to contribute to this global mission — one that unites art, leadership, and empathy to build stronger, more inclusive communities,”
added Omenaa Mensah.
As the Obama Foundation prepares to open the Center in 2026, it continues to highlight artists and leaders who inspire human progress across the world. As President Obama said in 2008:
“Hope is that thing inside of us that insists something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, to work for it, and to fight for it.”
About the Organizations
Obama Foundation
The Obama Foundation is guided by a core belief that ordinary people working together can change history. Its mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to create meaningful change. Founded by community organizers, the Foundation builds on that grassroots spirit by bringing people together — starting from its base on the South Side of Chicago, where the Obama Presidential Center is being built. Beyond Chicago, the Foundation runs leadership programs worldwide, supports girls’ education, and works to create pathways of opportunity for young men of color.
Omenaa Foundation
Founded by Omenaa Mensah, the Omenaa Foundation is a charitable NGO focused on education and empowerment. The Foundation supports street children in Africa who lack access to education and provides essential resources for children in Poland, including IT equipment for those in orphanages and foster care — ensuring that technology is not a barrier to learning and opportunity.
OmenaArt Foundation
The OmenaArt Foundation pioneers unconventional artistic projects that foster intercultural dialogue, promote contemporary art from Eastern Europe and Africa, and revitalize cultural heritage sites. The foundation also coordinates the TOP CHARITY Auction, one of Europe’s most significant philanthropic events, which has raised over €34 million to support various charitable and cultural initiatives.
White Cube
Established in 1993, White Cube is one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries with locations in London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, and Seoul. It has showcased works by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time, with a global reputation for curating groundbreaking exhibitions.
Dr. Louise Bernard
Dr. Bernard serves as Senior Vice President at the Obama Foundation and is the founding Director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum. A former Director of Exhibitions at the New York Public Library and a content developer for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dr. Bernard holds a Ph.D. in African American Studies and American Studies from Yale University.
Media Contact:
Justyna Komorek
📧 justyna.komorek@omiimage.com
📞 +48 534 108 802
