Seeing Through the Universe
By Maya Lin
About
The artwork
Seeing Through the Universe is a sculptural water feature made of two rounded granite forms. Placed together, they symbolize the balanced relationship shared by President and Mrs. Obama. Water moves across and through the surfaces, inviting visitors to look through the mist and interact with the piece. Seeing Through the Universe was designed as the centerpiece of the Ann Dunham Water Terrace, a space honoring President Obama’s mother.
Location: Outdoor Grounds | Water Terrace
The artist
Maya Lin is an artist and architect known for site-specific installations, memorials, and sculptural works that engage landscape and space. Her practice moves between architecture and art, often focusing on form, environment, and human interaction. She designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and has received both the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Both works together, and the choice of the stone, appropriately titled ‘silver cloud,’ gives a sense of our galaxy , our universe, our place in the world."
Maya Lin
Explore More
Hear from Maya Lin
Tap into the Obama Presidential Center audio guide to hear artist Maya Lin reveal how her serene sculpture, Seeing Through the Universe , captures both familial love and a sense of cosmic connection.
Learn About the Ann Dunham Water Terrace
The introspective and intimate Ann Dunham Water Terrace honors the life and legacy of President Obama’s mother and features a stone sculptural water created by world renowned artist and architect, Maya Lin.
An Inside Look at the Water Terrace
Get a behind the scenes look at the installation of “Seeing Through the Universe” featuring Maya Lin.
