Amy Sherald’s exhibition “American Sublime” at the Whitney Museum of American Art is a thought-provoking exploration of race and identity through the medium of portraiture. Sherald’s use of grisaille, a painting technique that uses shades of gray, challenges viewers to see her subjects beyond their race. In a video shown at the exhibition, Sherald expresses her desire for viewers to have an experience that is not solely focused on race, but rather on the individual depicted in the painting.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama, titled “Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama.” While some may argue that the use of grisaille flattens the subject, focusing instead on the intricate details of her dress, Sherald’s intention is to present her subjects as American icons. In another painting titled “As American as Apple Pie,” Sherald portrays two figures in a retro Americana setting, emphasizing her role as an American realist storyteller.
Despite criticism of her style, Sherald’s work resonates with Black audiences who see themselves represented in her paintings. The cancellation of an upcoming exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery due to fears of censorship highlights the ongoing struggle for inclusion and representation in the arts. Sherald’s portraits, including her depiction of Breonna Taylor, serve as powerful reminders of the complexities of Black identity and the need for diverse narratives in American art.
However, Sherald’s work also raises questions about the commodification of Black identity and the risk of reducing individuals to symbols or caricatures. By portraying her subjects as icons or characters in a larger narrative, Sherald challenges viewers to see beyond race and recognize the humanity of each individual depicted. As the boundaries between iconography and lived experience blur, Sherald’s paintings invite us to consider the full complexity of Black lives and the importance of acknowledging the nuances of identity beyond surface appearances.
