# Presidential Sand Art Barcelona's Barack Obama Portrait By Cecilia Biemann | Published 2008-11-07 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barack-obama-sand-art-barcelona-beach-presidential-portrait References: [damncoolpics.blogspot](http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2008/11/aerial-view-of-barack-obama.html) & [cnn](http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/03/barcelona.obama.art/index.html?iref=newssearch) This impressive homage to the new U.S. president-elect is the work of talented Cuban-born American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, who sculpted this [gigantic face](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits) of Barack Obama using gravel, sand and soil in [Barcelona](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2025-genuine-cup), where he now lives. The massive portrait of Obama's face measures 445 feet long by 264 feet wide and covers nearly 1 hectare of Barcelona beachfront. The artwork used over 500 tons of donated materials. The coloring is lovely, and the likeness to Barack Obama is truly incredible. This is my favorite piece of [sand art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arrakis-30) ever! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 11% | Activity: 48% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Giant Sand Art:** Creating massive sand art installations as a form of artistic expression and admiration for public figures. - **Materials Donation:** Leveraging donated materials to create large-scale art installations and reduce waste. - **Celebrity Portraits:** Using unconventional materials like sand and soil to create detailed portraits of famous individuals. ### Where This Applies - **Art:** Opportunities for artists to showcase their talent and creativity through large-scale sand art installations. - **Environmental Conservation:** Engaging in sustainable practices by repurposing donated materials for creative projects. - **Tourism and Events:** Utilizing impressive sand art installations as attractions for tourists and event attendees. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Iconic Bag-Inspired Art Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-birk.md) - [Protest Sand Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bland-castles.md) - [Mesmerizing Sand Pattern Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crystal-sandsara.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Reimagined Puzzled Artful Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portrait-of-a-woman-in-a-hat.md) - [Desert Reflective Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-travelling.md) - [Reflective Urban Art Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minibean.md) - [Large-Scale Sculpture Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/desert-x1.md) - [Optical Illusion Replica Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/liberty-science-center.md)