The Obama Foundation selected South Side Chicago-based artist Richard Hunt to create the first piece in a series of commissioned art for the Obama Presidential Center. The Center is being built on Chicago’s South Side.

Hunt’s sculpture, ‘Book Bird,’ will be placed in the Library Reading Garden outside of the new Chicago Public Library branch on the Obama Presidential Center campus. ‘Book Bird’ will depict a bird taking flight from a book to illuminate how reading and learning allows readers to enter new places and fly free.

Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago and has made history throughout his decades-long career. President Obama describes him as “one of the greatest artists Chicago ever produced.”

Hunt’s passion for the arts stemmed from his childhood, during which he spent the majority of his time enjoying museums and opera performances. He has more than 150 large-scale installations around the world.

“We believe art is a powerful mechanism to discover our common ground, as well as inspire and empower our visitors to be change agents in their communities. We’re working to elevate the importance of art throughout the Obama Presidential Center, and we hope that the sculpture Richard will create for the Reading Garden outside the Center’s Chicago Public Library branch will inspire community members and visitors from around the world,” said the two-term, never impeached President.

Construction of the presidential center began last summer. In addition to the library branch, the center will house a presidential museum, forum with community space, and an athletic center. The site will also feature a vegetable garden, sledding area and open space. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

The Center will be within 30 minutes of other attractions including The DuSable Museum of African American History and the Pullman National Monument in Chicago and the new Hard Rock Casino and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Gary.

See More Pictures and a Video of Hunt’s Work