Georgia-born artist Amy Sherald, who gained widespread recognition for painting former First Lady Michelle Obama's official portrait, will have her complete retrospective exhibition displayed at Atlanta's High Museum of Art from May 15 to September 27. The exhibition, titled "Amy Sherald: American Sublime," comes after Sherald withdrew her solo show from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., citing censorship concerns that garnered national media attention, including a cover story in The New Yorker.
The controversy began when Sherald expressed concerns about the Smithsonian's approach to exhibiting her work, particularly a painting that sparked debate over its content. The disputed artwork features a transgender model posed in a pink satin gown while holding a bouquet of blue flowers, with the subject's hair styled in an elaborate fashion. According to reports in The New York Times, Sherald felt that institutional hostility toward transgender individuals influenced the museum's decision-making process, leading her to make a clear statement about censorship by withdrawing her exhibition.
Randal Suffolk, director of the High Museum of Art, expressed enthusiasm about bringing the complete exhibition to Atlanta. "We are proud to share this opportunity with our community," Suffolk said, emphasizing the museum's commitment to presenting the artist's work without compromise. He noted that the museum has already established a relationship with Sherald, who was the recipient of the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize for African American Art and Art History. The Columbus native and Clark Atlanta University fine arts graduate represents a significant connection to Georgia's artistic community.
The retrospective will showcase Sherald's distinctive artistic approach, which often features subtle yet powerful messaging about visibility and representation. In a letter published in The New York Times, Sherald explained her decision to withdraw from the National Portrait Gallery, writing about the importance of maintaining artistic integrity. "My work has always been about asserting presence where there is often too much invisibility," she stated. "When artwork is compromised, it cannot carry the message it was created to convey, and I could not consent to having my work shown in a way that would erase its essence."
Sherald's career reached new heights following her selection to paint Michelle Obama's official portrait, which was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in February 2018. The portrait marked a historic moment as Sherald became the first African American woman to create an official presidential or first lady portrait for the National Portrait Gallery's collection. Her distinctive style, characterized by grayscale skin tones and vibrant backgrounds, has made her one of the most recognizable contemporary artists working today.
The High Museum exhibition will include works spanning Sherald's career, featuring paintings that have been displayed in previous exhibitions and collections. Notable pieces include works from the Dean Collection, owned by musicians Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, as well as paintings that explore themes of identity, representation, and social commentary. The exhibition represents the fourth venue for the touring retrospective, which had previously been scheduled to appear at the Whitney Museum in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Baltimore Museum of Art before the Smithsonian controversy arose.
Atlantans will have the opportunity to view Sherald's work in its intended form, without the institutional concerns that led to the Smithsonian withdrawal. The exhibition promises to showcase the full scope of Sherald's artistic vision, including the controversial pieces that sparked the censorship debate. This comprehensive presentation allows viewers to engage with the artist's complete narrative and understand the broader context of her work within contemporary American art and social discourse.
