The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) will host renowned painter Amy Sherald's touring exhibition "American Sublime" starting November 3, 2025, after the artist withdrew the show from the National Portrait Gallery due to concerns over potential censorship. The exhibition, which recently concluded its run at the Whitney Museum of American Art, will remain on display at the Baltimore institution until April 5, 2026.
The BMA announced its plans to showcase Sherald's work on September 4, emphasizing the artist's deep connection to Baltimore and Maryland. Sherald attended the Maryland Institute College of Art and has maintained strong ties to the city throughout her career. The museum had already planned to honor the artist in November with the BMA's Artist Who Inspires award, recognizing her significant artistic achievements, including her acclaimed portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
"Amy's story is also deeply intertwined with Baltimore," said BMA Director Asma Naeem in a statement. "Beyond her education and time lived in our beloved city, Baltimore is rooted in her subjects, on her canvases, and in her titles." The director expressed enthusiasm about presenting the exhibition as both a celebration of the creative community and a meaningful reunion with those influenced by Sherald's extraordinary ability to connect with audiences.
Sherald's decision to withdraw from the National Portrait Gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian network of museums, stemmed from a dispute over her painting "Trans Forming Liberty" (2024), which depicts the Statue of Liberty as a transgender woman. According to Sherald, she learned that the institution wanted her to replace this painting with a video that included commentary on transgender issues. However, the Smithsonian Institution has disputed this characterization, stating that they did not seek to replace the painting but rather wanted to add the video as contextual material.
The controversy reflects broader tensions around artistic expression and institutional responses to politically sensitive content. In an opinion piece published last week, Sherald detailed her reasoning for the withdrawal, arguing that institutional fear driven by a wider climate of political hostility toward transgender lives influenced the Smithsonian's proposal to modify her painting's display. She also criticized what she described as the Trump administration's broader efforts to control content within Smithsonian institutions.
The "American Sublime" exhibition at the BMA will feature several of Sherald's most significant works. Among the paintings to be displayed is "Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)" (2013), which earned Sherald historic recognition when it won the Smithsonian's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in 2016. With this victory, Sherald became both the first African-American person and the first woman to win the prestigious prize, which includes a commission from the National Portrait Gallery.
The exhibition will also showcase Sherald's best-known work, her official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, alongside other powerful pieces including her tribute to Breonna Taylor (2020) and the controversial "Trans Forming Liberty" (2024). Additional works include "Ecclesia (The Meeting of Inheritance and Horizons)" (2024), demonstrating the breadth and evolution of Sherald's artistic vision.
Sherald declined to provide additional comments specifically about the BMA exhibition when approached by media outlets. Her silence on the matter comes as the art world continues to grapple with questions about institutional censorship, artistic freedom, and the role of museums in addressing contemporary social and political issues.
"Presenting American Sublime at the BMA is a celebration of our creative community and a joyful reunion with those shaped by Amy's extraordinary power to connect," Director Naeem stated. "We're thrilled to share her transformational work with our visitors." The museum's enthusiasm for hosting the exhibition reflects its commitment to supporting artists with strong local connections and presenting work that engages with important contemporary themes.
