“Amy Sherald: American Sublime” at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Mama Has Made the Bread (How Things Are Measured) (2018), If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it (2019), Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (2018)

When I first encountered Amy Sherald’s portraits, I was struck by their quiet power—the way her subjects, painted in grayscale against vibrant backdrops, command attention with a presence that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Seeing American Sublime, her first major museum retrospective, at the Whitney Museum of American Art, is an opportunity to experience the full arc of her artistic vision.

Sherald’s evolution is fascinating. From her early works in 2007 to her most recent paintings, her approach to portraiture has expanded in complexity, balancing meticulous realism with painterly abstraction. One revelation in this exhibition is how she subtly shifts between intimate storytelling and broader cultural narratives, exploring Black identity, leisure, and representation in ways that feel both timeless and urgent.

Since her portrait of Michelle Obama catapulted her into international recognition, the market for her work has soared. But beyond its market significance, American Sublime arrives at a crucial moment—offering a profound meditation on contemporary American life and who gets to be seen in art history.

For those visiting, take your time with this show. Certain works invite extended contemplation—Sherald’s large-scale portraits have a way of revealing more the longer you look. Think about what draws you to certain works and how Sherald's approach to portraiture might shift your own perspective on the people she so devotedly depicts.

https://whitney.org/exhibitions/amy-sherald

My Reading the Art World podcast interview with curator Sarah Roberts is now live on Spotify and Apple.