Bigger and Bolder: Michelle Obama’s Portraitist Comes Into her Own

This month, Sherald opened her first solo exhibition since the debut of the presidential portrait made her famous. Amy Sherald: the heart of the matter... at Hauser & Wirth in New York shows the artist coming fully into her powers. Two of these new paintings are larger than she has previously worked, and expand the scope and dialogue of her previous work.

Known for working in her version of the American Realist tradition, Sherald creates stylized images that bring us into an intimate conversation with her subjects. Known for portraits where melanated skin is rendered in grayscale and clothing and background pop with bright colors, Sherald seeks to broaden the art historical canon by adding her intimate images of African Americans. In translating brown skin into grisaille, she simultaneously draws attention to skin tone while denying that it is the only thing that defines her subjects.

Sherald (b. 1973), who lives and works in Baltimore, wants the historical record and the art historical canon to more accurately reflect the lived experiences of people who look like her. For her two new large-scale paintings, If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it and Precious jewels by the sea (both 2019), which measure nine feet tall, the artist referred to vintage photographs. By depicting African Americans at work and at play, Sherald shows that though the visual record may not always reflect it, African Americans are an integral part of these iconic American moments.

The more typical Sherald portraits in the heart of the matter… are iconic in their own right. Reminiscent of Byzantine icons, her subjects stand out from brightly colored backgrounds. Both familiar and superhuman, their carefully rendered flesh set against flattened backgrounds and clothing draws us into an intimate moment with the subject. In all of her works, Sherald seeks to connect us with the humanity of her subjects, to remind us that black people have complex inner and public lives that stereotypes try to negate.

Sherald has described her subjects as “Americans doing everyday American things.” In these new works, her subjects are relatable and otherworldy. By making the ordinary feel exceptional, Sherald's voice and talents are clear and powerful.

Amy Sherald: the heart of the matter… is on view at Hauser & Wirth in New York through October 26.