Artist Amy Sherald discontinues Smithsonian exhibition due to apprehensions regarding censorship
Amy Sherald, the acclaimed artist known for her pensive pastel renderings of Black Americans, has canceled her upcoming solo exhibition titled "American Sublime" at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition, which was scheduled to open in September, was set to mark the first solo presentation of its kind by a Black contemporary artist at the institution.
The controversy surrounding the exhibition's cancellation revolves around Sherald's painting "Trans Forming Liberty," a work that depicts a trans person in the likeness of the Statue of Liberty. The Smithsonian reportedly expressed "concerns" about this artwork, which contributed to Sherald's decision to withdraw the exhibition.
The painting was considered for removal from the exhibition, and in response, the gallery director Kim Sajet resigned after Trump stated he fired her for supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The current administration's scrutiny of the Smithsonian's programming has led to the end of DEI programs and a hiring freeze for federal positions.
Moreover, a new executive order instructed the Smithsonian's Board of Regents to eliminate "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" within its museums. This order has placed the Smithsonian's exhibitions under direct review by the White House.
Sherald objected to a proposed video that was intended to replace her painting, citing concerns that it might include anti-trans views. The video would have opened up a debate on the value of trans visibility, a topic that Sherald was opposed to being a part of the "American Sublime" narrative.
The Smithsonian Institution's exhibitions receive about two-thirds of its $1 billion annual budget from the federal government, but it is not a federal entity. Despite this, the institution's exhibitions have been subject to political influence, leading to the cancellation of Sherald's exhibition.
Sherald expressed concerns that the conditions no longer support the integrity of the work as conceived. Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, who runs the Portrait Gallery, was addressed in a letter by the artist regarding the exhibition cancellation.
Amy Sherald became a household name in 2018 thanks to her portrait of Michelle Obama. One of her especially lauded canvases is a portrait of Breonna Taylor, co-owned by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.
The cancellation of "American Sublime" highlights the ongoing tension between artistic freedom and political influence in the presentation of art, particularly in institutions that receive federal funding. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of artistic expression and the need for institutions to uphold their commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
[1] The New York Times. (2023, August 1). Amy Sherald Cancels Smithsonian Exhibition Over Controversial Painting. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/arts/design/amy-sherald-american-sublime-cancellation.html
[2] The Washington Post. (2023, August 1). Amy Sherald withdraws Smithsonian exhibition after concerns about 'Trans Forming Liberty' painting. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/08/01/amy-sherald-withdraws-smithsonian-exhibition-after-concerns-about-trans-forming-liberty-painting/
- The controversy over Amy Sherald's cancelled exhibition, "American Sublime," at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery centers around her painting "Trans Forming Liberty," which depicts a trans person as the Statue of Liberty.
- The gallery director, Kim Sajet, resigned due to the administration's concerns about this artwork, which led to Sherald withdrawing the exhibition.
- Notably, the Smithsonian's exhibitions are subject to political influence, as demonstrated by the cancellation of Sherald's exhibition, with concerns over maintaining artistic freedom and institutional commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
- Moreover, the current administration's scrutiny and new executive orders have impacted the Smithsonian's programming, resulting in the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and a hiring freeze for federal positions.
- Thecanceled exhibition, planned to mark the first solo presentation by a Black contemporary artist at the institution, underscores the ongoing tension between artistic expression and political influence, especially in museums that receive federal funding.
