Amy Sherald (born 1973) is an American painter who has captured significant attention for her distinctive portraits that employ a unique approach to portraying African American identity. Sherald’s choice of grayscale for skin tones — rather than naturalistic colors — is a stylistic decision that has become emblematic of her work, intended to challenge and reframe the concept of race and color.
Raised in Columbus, Georgia, Sherald went on to receive her MFA in painting from Maryland Institute College of Art. It was during her studies that she began developing her grayscale technique, desiring to remove the assigned “color” from her subjects and highlight deeper personal narratives and shared histories instead.
Sherald’s subjects, typically African Americans, are rendered in this monochromatic palette against a vibrant background. These figures are often depicted in everyday settings or donning everyday clothing, but Sherald’s approach bestows upon them a regality and deep introspection.
Perhaps the most widely recognized work of her career is her official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, which was unveiled in 2018 and is displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. This portrait garnered both admiration and critique, reflecting Sherald’s ability to spark conversation around representation and identity.
Artistically, Sherald has been influenced by the realism of classical portraiture but integrates contemporary contexts and sensibilities. While her portraiture can be compared in essence to artists like Kehinde Wiley, who similarly engages with representation and identity, her stylistic choices stand distinctively on their own. As she continues to produce, Amy Sherald remains a vital voice in discussions on contemporary American portraiture and the complexities of race and identity.
Useful Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Sherald
https://www.wikiart.org/en/amy-sherald
