Amy Sherald and the Quiet Revolution of Black Portraiture

Shifting the Narrative

Amy Sherald’s art offers a fascinating lens into contemporary American portraiture, particularly through her exploration of Black identity, symbolism, and the surreal. Her unique signature use of grisaille, a technique where she paints Black skin in muted gray tones, draws attention to the individuality and humanity of her subjects.

Sherald herself has described this approach as a way of de-emphasizing race and highlighting the complexity of a person rather than their racial identity. Her works challenge the narrative that Black people in art must always grapple with suffering or political commentary.

In her painting For Love, and for Country, Sherald reinterprets the iconic image captured by Eisenstaedt on V-J Day, where a sailor famously kissed a nurse. Sherald’s take features two Black male sailors locked in a tender kiss, offering a powerful statement of love and defiance.

The painting, towering over 10 ft. (300 cm), is one of her most significant works to date and comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are under heightened threat in the U.S. Sherald highlights how public displays of affection within marginalized communities have been censored or erased throughout history, making the kiss a bold act of visibility and resilience.

Take Planes, Rockets, and the Spaces in Between as another example. The painting depicts two young Black girls gazing upward at a rocket launch, a vision of innocence and wonder. Sherald’s composition subtly positions the girls within a historical American context often reserved for white figures—space exploration, scientific advancement—yet reclaims this space for Black joy, childhood, and potential.

Amy Sherald’s What’s precious inside of him does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence (All American) offers a bold and nuanced reflection on identity and Americana. In this painting, Sherald depicts a Black man dressed in a shirt featuring the American flag and wearing a Stetson hat, presenting traditional symbols of American identity. The vibrant colors of the flag shirt and the southern hat suggest a complex relationship between the individual and national identity.

The portrait speaks to how Black bodies have been both marginalized and central to American history and how personal identity resists being confined by the symbols we assign to it. The figure’s direct gaze and confident posture further challenge any attempt to diminish his presence, embodying a quiet power that asks viewers to reconsider how we define “All American.”

Let’s return to Sherald’s most famous piece, First Lady Michelle Obama. While some critics felt the portrait did not precisely resemble the former First Lady, Sherald used the opportunity to evoke Michelle Obama’s essence rather than providing a strict likeness. Her dress’s simple, airy background and geometric patterns recall modernist abstraction while referencing the quilts of Gee’s Bend, a remote community of Black descendants of enslaved people.

This artwork is groundbreaking as the first official portrait of a First Lady created by a Black artist, marking a critical moment in American art history. It highlights the importance of inclusivity and diversity in representing prominent figures, showing how art can shape cultural narratives. Sherald’s unique approach challenges traditional depictions, sparking meaningful conversations about identity, race, and the role of art in society.

With Love,

Sherald brings forward often overlooked or erased stories, giving Black individuals and communities space to be seen in their full humanity. In pieces like For Love, and for Country, she pushes the boundaries of representation, offering moments of tenderness, strength, and resistance. Her art not only captures the beauty of everyday life but also serves as a commentary on the ongoing struggles for visibility, equality, and love, making her work both timely and timeless.