Amy Sherald's Vivid Portraits Redefine American Identity

Amy Sherald’s reputation largely rests on a single iconic work: her 2018 portrait of Michelle Obama, commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. Departing from traditional academic portraiture—which often features pale men posed against dark, draped backgrounds—Sherald’s depiction breathes fresh life into the genre. Obama is portrayed in a sleeveless gown, leaning forward contemplatively in a pose reminiscent of Rodin’s “The Thinker,” set against a soft powder-blue backdrop that evokes openness and clarity.

Yet this celebrated portrait stands apart from the broader scope of Sherald’s art. The Whitney Museum of American Art’s exhibition “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” presents a compelling retrospective of 42 paintings that reveal Sherald as an artist focused less on famous figures and more on crafting visual narratives that elevate everyday people. Her work often tells one-frame stories that highlight individuals who might otherwise go unrecognized. While occasionally didactic, Sherald’s paintings avoid sentimentality through their strong geometric compositions and use of flat, simplified color planes.

Visitors entering the museum’s fifth floor encounter a striking curved wall featuring five life-sized portraits, each rendered in vivid, distinct colors. Among them, “The Girl Next Door” (2019) stands out, depicting a young woman in a white polka-dot dress set against an emerald green background. Unlike the effortless charm typically associated with the archetype, Sherald’s subject appears endearingly awkward. Her red leather belt, worn unusually high, and carefully styled hair, along with bright red lipstick, suggest a conscious effort to present herself well, offering a nuanced commentary on American girlhood.

At 51, Sherald approaches her art with meticulous intentionality. She carefully selects her models and outfits them with thoughtfully chosen costumes and props. Working from her photographs, she situates Black figures within settings imbued with nostalgic Americana—suburban lawns, white picket fences, and other symbols of a prosperous, idealized lifestyle.

The world Sherald creates is often suffused with a bright, shadowless summer light. She has described herself as an escapist, expressing delight in whimsical ideas like bug-free grass, reminiscent of children’s shows such as the Teletubbies, underscoring the imaginative and hopeful qualities of her work.