Seeing Through the Universe

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