Every Child Thrives Festival - Live Painting at the Obama Presidential Center

I was invited to create a live painting over three days at the inaugural Every Child Thrives Festival, held at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The event brought together youth, educators, artists, and global leaders for a shared exploration of how we can reimagine the future of education and community.

The festival was organized by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and centered on the idea of placing young people at the heart of shaping that future. The atmosphere reflected that purpose—energetic, hopeful, and full of conversation and exchange. The event space itself, a beautifully transformed basketball court overlooking the auditorium, became my studio for three days.

I stayed at a nearby hotel with other attendees and rode the shuttle each morning. Along the way, I met visitors from several different countries, and I enjoyed hearing their perspectives on education, community, and opportunity. The sense of global connection added another layer of meaning to the experience.

Throughout each day, speakers and performances were woven into the schedule—during breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, with workshops and breakout sessions in between. I often paused from painting to listen.

Voices from the Festival

Rocsi Diaz served as host and announcer, guiding the flow of the event with energy and warmth. One of the first speakers I heard was Valerie Jarrett, who remarked that the Obama Presidential Center still carried the “new smell”—a reminder of how recently this space had opened and how much possibility it held.

On the second day, Time editor Lucy Feldman spoke, followed by comedian Sherri Shepherd, whose storytelling I could relate to deeply. She shared a humorous clip about trying to transport a large basketball hoop through the subway—eventually throwing it over a turnstile and climbing over herself, only to receive a ticket from a police officer. She thought she might be part of a prank show. As someone who has often carried large and awkward art supplies through cities, the story felt familiar in spirit.

Second City performed with Jack McBrayer, bringing humor and levity to the space. Later, Amanda Gorman spoke about her path to becoming a poet laureate, reflecting on voice, purpose, and persistence. Her words stayed with me as I worked.

The Painting

The painting I worked on throughout the three days depicts five young adults of different ethnic backgrounds looking upward together with optimism, surrounded by radiating fields of color. The composition is centered on hope, unity, and forward vision.

I had already drawn the composition in advance and began building it in stages during the event.

On the first day, I focused on establishing the structure of the piece—blocking in the black shapes of the faces and beginning the lettering for a quote by President Obama: “We choose hope over fear.” I also visited the museum and spent time viewing the artwork in the collection. It is a remarkable space.

On the second day, I developed the radiating background colors. I used drafting tape to create crisp, geometric edges between the color fields. I also began painting clothing and hair, allowing the figures to start emerging from the structure.

That same day, a fire alarm went off due to a fog machine. It was a reminder that the smoke detectors were fully functional—and part of the unpredictability of live events.

On the third day, I focused on the faces of the young figures, working steadily toward completion as the final hours of the festival unfolded. I was finishing the last details under time pressure as the painting needed to be collected and prepared for shipment to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which commissioned the work.

At the base of the painting, I completed the lettering of the quote: We choose hope over fear. Which is from president Obama’s speech to the United Nations. “We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort. We reject fatalism or cynicism when it comes to human affairs; we choose to work for the world as it should be, as our children deserve it to be.”