Sky of Hope
By Idris Khan
About
The artwork
Sky of Hope fills the ceiling with layered text drawn from President Obama’s 2015 speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery, Ala. marches. Each word was individually stamped by hand, building a dense pattern that radiates outward like a burst of light. Up close, visitors can pick out fragments of language—phrases including “love and hope can conquer hate,” “many coming together,” and “to shape our own destiny.” Farther away, the text becomes more abstract. Blending art and architecture, the work creates a quiet space for reflection on the power of hope.
Location: Museum | Sky Room
The artist
Idris Khan is a London-based artist whose work spans photography, video, and sculpture. Since earning his Master’s from the Royal College of Art, he has developed a practice known for layered imagery that brings together references from literature, music, history, and religion. His work often moves between abstraction and figuration, building dense visual compositions from repeated marks and text.
Explore More
Hear From Idris Khan
Dive into the Obama Presidential Center audio guide to hear artist Idris Khan explain how his monumental painting, Sky of Hope, transforms iconic words from the Selma marches into a cascading waterfall of deep blue text.
The Sky Room
Head to the top of the Museum to the Sky Room, a majestic, awe-inspiring space that features panoramic views of the South Side of Chicago and art by Idris Khan, Jenny Holzer, and Carrie Mae Weems’ The Cool Blue Wind .
Obama Presidential Center Museum
Journey through the Museum and explore President Obama’s presidency, the legacy of the First Family, and the power of civic participation.
