Arts+Culture / NewsAmerica's first 3D printed president is kind of creepyThis presidential bust of Obama is a landmark first – but what's up with his eyes?ShareLink copied ✔️June 26, 2014Arts+CultureNewsText Thomas Gorton People are using 3D printing for pretty much everything now, from couture to prosthetic kidneys, so it's no surprise that someone has just created the first 3D printed bust of the 44th US president, Barack Obama. Unfortunately for everyone, it's a weird nightmare. Last week, Obama organised a fair to celebrate young American entrepreneurs who are "inventing America's future wiht new technologies and techniques". It was there that America's man in the White House had the honour of being the first president to receive a 3D printed presidential bust. Shame he looks like the undead. The facial contours might be accurate, but it's Obama's lack of pupils that lend the model a truly vacant air. Eyes are meant to be the windows to the soul, right? The bust was created by the Smithsonian Institute, which worked with a new digital process with two different capture methods and data sets. The printer took 40 hours to construct the final product, though the POTUS only spent five minutes getting scanned for the bust. The lifeless plastic rendering will now reside permanently in the National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.TrendingIlia Malinin breaks the ice – and his silenceHe does things on a skating rink that were once thought impossible. But the ‘Quad God’s’ setback at this year’s Winter Olympics brought new fire and energy to a skater seen by many as the greatest of all time Life & CultureArt & PhotographyMost loved photo stories of May 2026 Nike FashionNike celebrates the culture of soccer ahead of a summer shaped by the gameLife & Culture5 times ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin did the impossible on the iceBeautyThe rise of the intellectual tattooLife & CultureWhy so many young people are training to be death doulasBeauty10 of the hottest Instagram accounts fusing art, sex and eroticaBeautyDoja Cat: ‘The buzzcut? I don’t think I’m doing that again’BeautyHoroscopes June 2026: Love deeply, take risks, and embarrass yourselfEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy