It was quite the occasion at the White House on Wednesday with former President Barack Obama returning for a special ceremony

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of official portraits.

Barack Obama selected Robert McCurdy to paint his portrait and says the “stripped down” style of his works helps create an “encounter” between the person in the painting and the person looking at it.

Barack took his chance being back at the White House to thank President Biden.

Back to the portraits, and It’s a modern vibe for the former First Lady’s too.

Sharon Sprung painted Michelle Obama seated on a sofa in the Red Room wearing a formal light blue dress.

Sprung worked on the portrait for eight months, day and night, the most time she’s ever spent on a single painting.

She worked entirely from photographs and getting the dress just right was the hardest part.

The portraits do not look like any others in the collection to which they will be added, in terms of style and substance.

Obama’s portrait is destined for display in the Grand Foyer of the White House, the traditional showcase for paintings of the two most recent presidents.