Portraitist withdrew her National Portrait Gallery show over reports that a transgender Statue of Liberty painting could offend Trump
African-American artist Amy Sherald has pulled her critically acclaimed retrospective American Sublime from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, citing concerns over censorship. She made the move after learning the museum wanted to exclude a painting depicting the Statue of Liberty as a Black trans woman out of fear it could provoke President Donald Trump.
The landmark museum show has been a top pick for critics and audiences since it debuted on the West Coast at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art last fall, before landing at New York’s Whitney Musuem of American Art this spring. The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) was next in line to host the blockbuster show.
But Sherald pulled out of the Washington show after she learned that Trans Forming Liberty might not be shown due to the Trump Administration’s anti-Trans agenda. The painting reimagines the Statue of Liberty as a Black transgender woman in a red wig and blue dress, striking a pose with one hand on her hip and the other holding a flower-filled torch.
Sherald said she was “informed that internal concerns had been raised” at the National Portrait Gallery about Trans Forming Liberty. Those concerns led to talk about removing and excluding the work from the show. It is currently on view as part of the ongoing Whitney Museum edition of the show, closing Aug. 10.
“It’s clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives played a role,” Sherald said.
The Trump administration has aggressively targeted the trans community, notably with executive orders that seek to recognize only two sexes and restrict gender-affirming care for young people.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has signed numerous executive orders taking aim at arts and culture. The Smithsonian has come in for particular ire: his March 28 executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” targets funding for museums and programs at the Smithsonian Institution that he deems have “promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
When Sherald was chosen as the official portraitist for Michelle Obama in 2018, she was catapulted to superstardom from her burgeoning career.
Amy Sherald at Hauser & Wirth, here.
Links to the American Sublime exhibition at The Whitney Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art can be found in the text of this post.
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I’m not sure which frightens me more: Trump’s blatant censorship, or corporate America’s craven submission to that censorship.
It mystifies me how little opposition there is, despite obvious unease and fear. But perhaps it’s the fear of the proven consequences (firings, fines, etc)
The dispiriting precedent is 1930s Germany. Hitler was legally elected, and then systematically tightened his party’s authoritarian grasp. Business & academe had laughed at him before — and rapidly fell in line once he was in power.
No one should care what that moron thinks. HE is offensive to pretty much everyone but his disgusting minions.
I think the Smithsonian organization in particular is running scared and that’s horrifying.
I don’t understand how this is possible. A rapist, convicted felon, liar, vindictive evil person and he breaks the law constantly and NO ONE who has any power is doing anything to stop him. The republican party needs to be erased entirely. Horrible evil people, greedy and terrified of losing any power they have.