As curator of commissions for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Virginia Shore — working closely with President and Michelle Obama — curated a diverse collection of 28 site-specific works by 30 artists, ranging from contemporary masters to emerging voices, with a particular emphasis on Chicago artists, all united by a vision of art as a reflection of democracy, community, and civic empowerment.

Commissioned artists include: Lindsay Adams, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Mark Bradford, Tyanna J. Buie, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Nick Cave, Nekisha Durrett, Spencer Finch, Theaster Gates, Jeffrey Gibson, Jay Heikes, Jenny Holzer, Richard Hunt, Rashid Johnson, Idris Khan OBE, Sam Kirk, Maya Lin, Hugo McCloud, Julie Mehretu, Aliza Nisenbaum, Jack Pierson, Martin Puryear, Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Kiki Smith, Dorian Sylvain, Marie Watt, and Carrie Mae Weems.