Artist Amy Sherald has made the decision to cancel her upcoming exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery due to censorship issues that arose concerning her painting of the Statue of Liberty, which was modeled after a transgender artist.
Known for her vibrant portraits of Black life, Sherald gained prominence with her official portrait of Michelle Obama in 2018. Since then, she has become one of the most influential contemporary American painters, known for her use of grisaille, or gray tones, against striking blue backdrops.
The mid-career survey titled “American Sublime,” which had traveled across the country, was slated to open at the National Portrait Gallery in September. The exhibition had already made stops at notable venues, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, where it is currently showcased. Notably, Arewà Basit, the transgender artist who inspired Sherald’s painting “Trans Forming Liberty,” appeared at the Whitney’s opening event alongside Sherald.
In a statement regarding her decision, Sherald noted that concerns had been raised internally at the National Portrait Gallery, ultimately leading to discussions about potentially removing her work from the exhibition.
“While no single person is to blame, it is clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives played a role,” Sherald emphasized.
The Smithsonian responded by suggesting the inclusion of a video to provide context for the painting. However, Sherald decided to withdraw the exhibition entirely. According to a report by the New York Times, the proposed video was viewed as problematic by the artist, suggesting it would undermine her work by opening the floor to debate about trans visibility.
Sherald expressed her strong opposition, stating, “The video would have opened up for debate the value of trans visibility, and I was opposed to that being a part of the ‘American Sublime’ narrative.”
This decision comes amid ongoing crises within the Smithsonian Institution, with increasing pressures and interferences attributed to directives from President Donald Trump during his second term. Established by Congress in 1846, the institution has faced challenges in maintaining its mission due to new ideological mandates from the Trump administration. Over recent months, the administration has rolled back trans rights and sought to limit race and gender inclusivity in various institutions, including museums and schools.
In March, President Trump signed an executive order mandating significant changes to the Smithsonian’s exhibition content. The order claimed that the institution has promoted narratives portraying American and Western values as harmful and oppressive. Furthermore, Vice President JD Vance was granted authority to intervene in government funding concerning exhibits perceived as divisive or inconsistent with federal values.
In June, the National Portrait Gallery lost its director, Kim Sajet, after President Trump announced that he would fire her, despite lacking legal authority to do so.
Addressing the impact of her painting “Trans Forming Liberty,” Sherald noted, “This painting exists to hold space for someone whose humanity has been politicized and disregarded. I cannot in good conscience comply with a culture of censorship, especially when it targets vulnerable communities.”
She further added, “At a time when transgender people are being legislated against, silenced, and endangered across our nation, silence is not an option.”
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