Apr 3

Amy Sherald: American Sublime Review

Amy Sherald is a 51 year-old photographer, painter, and literary enthusiast. Rose from Columbus, Georgia, Sherald always had a passion for art. She would draw pictures at the end of her sentences, depicting whatever she was writing about. With a class trip to the museum, Sherald found herself inspired by Bo Bartlett’s renditions of Black figures. In this moment, Sherald knew what she wanted to do—art.

Though Sherald was sure in her life’s path, her family, particularly her mother, wanted her to pursue a career in medicine. Sherald, being raised by a strong minded woman, grew up to be a strong minded woman herself. So, she went on to get her Bachelor’s of Art from Clark Atlanta University and her MFA at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

After famously painting Breonna Taylor, a beautiful young woman who tragically was killed due to police brutality, Sherald went on to receive her Honorary Doctorate from MICA, giving her mother the accomplishment of becoming a doctor after all.

This past Thursday, I had the pleasure of being invited to Amy Sherald’s American Sublime exhibit opening at the Whitney Museum. Not only were the galleries full of sophisticated personnel, but the conversations surrounding each piece was surely exquisite. I’m always interested in the type of people that are attracted to an artist’s work. It answers questions of, Who sees themselves through this work? And I find that to be an extension of the creation and the process itself.

So, the doors open to the 5th floor, and here: you find this masterpiece above greeting you. Sherald is most know for her depiction of the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, which was included in the exhibit. However, Sherald’s work can always be identified by the grisaille skin tones. Though she primarily paints Black subjects in various settings, they all have a large sense of personality, individualism, and an element of storytelling. Sherald’s work is the truest representation of a picture meaning a thousand words. The juxtaposition of creating work that alludes to a strong sense of individualism, while also creating a sense of unification through her style, really reflects the Black society in America in general. Though we are all different and unique in our own ways, there’s a string of pain, unity, and understanding that brings us all together, and Sherald’s work depicts just that.

Sherald’s process begins with a photograph. She stages the outfit and pose to reflect the subject’s character and personality, or the story she is looking to tell. Once she has the perfect shot, she begins her sketches. From there, she moves to painting with a dynamic zooming approach. Because she generally paints such large portraits, perspective is everything—zooming in for detailing, and zooming out for the overall picture. This three-step undertaking not only brings so much structure to Sherald’s process, but it also gives her a chance to fall in love with the details, refining the story she wants to tell through a particular piece.

Moving through the galleries, Sherald’s love for literature can be seen most obviously in her titles. She would quote famous lines from the books she may have read, and being a fellow bookworm, I was able to immediately recognize some of these lines. Sherald has said to be most inspired by writers like Toni Morrison, Emily Dickenson, and of course, her beloved friend Elizabeth Alexander. It is said that Sherald’s work is often in conversation with a piece of literature she has consumed.

Sherald’s choice of grisailled skintones was inspired by black and white photographs she came across while living in Baltimore, Maryland. Right then and there, Sherald began to use the grey tones to express Blackness, leaving space for nuance while also challenging the cliche Black identity narratives.

As I walked through the galleries of The Whitney Museum, I found myself wrapped in an immersive world of patience and thoughtfulness. I felt like I stepped into Sherald’s mind. I saw her take both subtle and lurid stances in politics, love, friendship, and more. Just as much as she paints with so much detail, she also leaves us in a pool of questions. At times, Sherald challenges our boxes that surround gender and sexuality. In the picture below, I assumed that I was standing in front of a sailor coming home to his/their female lover—it wasn’t until I read the caption and realized that she was challenging and representing all forms of love through the fluidity of the subjects’ genders.

In much of Sherald’s work, we see themes of relationships. Whether through the title of the work, a detail in the painting, or the overall painting itself—it is obvious that Sherald is interested in the effect one person can have on another, and uses keen details to express belonging.

This (above) is a portrait of Breonna Taylor, the woman mentioned earlier in this blog who was fatally shot by police. With rage and heartbreak, Sherald depicted the most beautiful portrait of Breonna in ode to her life and her family. This painting not only shows Breonna in the epitome of grace, but from this painting we also know she was loved. If you notice, she has a ring on her left hand. Breonna was engaged at the time of her death. The ring not only symbolizes her as a fiancé, but it plays with time, symbolizing a past full of love, joy, and security, but also the future that had been tragically stolen from them.

Overall, I think this gallery is a must see. It was fun for me to come up with the names of the paintings on my own or before I read the titles, and to my surprise—Sherald and I think alike. Maybe it’s our similar taste in literature, but I found the literature of the gallery to be quite pleasurable and a true compliment to Sherald’s work. The lighting and wooden floors really allow you to be still with each piece, soaking in the characters’ with all their glory. It gives you a space to create your own narratives and see your friends, siblings, and lovers in a new light. This gallery was beautifully curated, thanks to Sarah Roberts.

Since visiting American Sublime, I have thought of all the ways in which I have been influenced by people and vice versa. If there’s anything I took away from Sherald, it is that people matter. Through her work, she has told many stories of the ordinary people passing through her life, and more importantly, she is slowly revealing herself through each piece—touching on themes of innocence and growing through time. From this point on, I vow to tell the stories of the people around me—not just the concepts of them or a reflection of how they make me feel, but them. As they are.

I am very grateful to the brave little school girl who decided to pursue art. Against all odds. Against all doubt. Not only did she inspire me, but a nation. I hope Sherald continues to break and redefine Black identities through her own elevated and enriching lenses.

Until next time… ciao.

xx.