Art has always been subjective - everyone sees and feels it differently. Keeps things interesting !

They took one last chance to break new ground.
Hers harkens to slave era garb.
He he looks concerned still, no hint of gloating or conceit.

My first impression seeing it was: good high school art project. Unfortunately, the dress has more depth than her skin does. In reality, her skintone is rich and she almost glows. The portrait looks flat and bland, like her skin was shaded with graphite. Why is she so gray? And her expression seems so disengaged, lacking any of her inherent passion and warmth. I don't even have strong feelings about Mrs. Obama, but I don't think her portrait does her justice at all.

imho - i think they're cool, especially Michelle's. The colors, shapes, and the composition as a whole i think reflects her poise, her style. The painting stands almost as a monument to her place in history. I think her more generic appearance is intentionally used to stress how she stands for many.

Apparently I don't know art. I think both portraits are horrible, but at least Obama's looks like him. I see Michelle's and think paint-by-number.