Exhibition by Amy Sherald at the Smithsonian Called Off Due to Censorship Disputes
Amy Sherald, the artist behind the iconic portrait of Michelle Obama, has cancelled her upcoming solo exhibition "American Sublime" at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The cancellation was due to concerns over the potential removal of Sherald's painting, Trans Forming Liberty, which depicts a Black transgender woman in the stance of the Statue of Liberty.
The museum had internal concerns about the inclusion of Trans Forming Liberty in the exhibition, and discussions about removing the painting from the display arose. According to Sherald, these discussions were prompted by the fear of political backlash under the Trump administration.
In a letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, Sherald expressed her disapproval of the institutional fear and political hostility towards transgender lives. She felt that the conditions no longer supported the integrity of her work as conceived, and highlighted a culture of censorship targeting vulnerable communities.
The Smithsonian previously affirmed its independence from curatorial interference from the White House. However, the Smithsonian Institution's exhibitions are currently under review by the White House, and in March, a new executive order instructed the Smithsonian's Board of Regents to eliminate "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" within its museums.
Sherald declined a Smithsonian proposal to produce a video to "contextualize" the painting alongside it, fearing that it might include anti-trans views. She chose to cancel the exhibition when she understood that a video would replace the painting.
The iteration set for the National Portrait Gallery would have marked the first solo presentation of its kind by a Black contemporary artist at the institution. American Sublime features some 50 works by Sherald, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive presentations of her work yet.
Sherald became a household name in 2018 thanks to her portrait of Michelle Obama. The cancellation of her exhibition has sparked discussions about censorship and the role of art institutions in promoting diverse voices.
Notably, National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet resigned after Trump said he fired her for supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Smithsonian announced the end of its DEI programs in January, as well as a hiring freeze for all federal positions.
The Smithsonian receives about two-thirds of its $1 billion annual budget from the federal government. The institution is overseen by a Board of Regents, not the federal government, which further complicates the issue of political interference in its exhibitions.
Sherald believed that the video would open up debate about the value of trans visibility. However, she felt that the proposed video did not adequately address her concerns and the integrity of her work. The cancellation of her exhibition underscores the ongoing debate about the balance between artistic freedom and political sensitivity in public institutions.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/09/arts/design/amy-sherald-smithsonian-censorship.html [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/03/08/amy-sherald-cancels-exhibition-over-censorship-concerns-at-smithsonian/ [3] https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/amy-sherald-cancels-exhibition-at-smithsonians-national-portrait-gallery-over-censorship-concerns-1234617398/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/mar/08/amy-sherald-cancels-exhibition-at-smithsonian-over-censorship-fears-trans-statue-of-liberty
- The cancelled exhibition, "American Sublime" by contemporary artist Amy Sherald, was to showcase her painting Trans Forming Liberty, depicting a Black transgender woman as the Statue of Liberty, at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
- In a letter, Sherald criticized the Smithsonian for institutional fear and political hostility towards transgender lives, citing discussions about removing her painting and a new executive order encouraging "anti-American ideology" elimination.
- Fearing potential anti-trans views in a proposed video to "contextualize" her painting, Sherald decided to cancel her exhibition when she learned the video would replace her work.
- The cancelled show would have been the first solo presentation by a Black contemporary artist at the National Portrait Gallery, featuring 50 works by Sherald, including her iconic portrait of Michelle Obama.
- Concerns over political interference in art institutions continue to persist, particularly in the context of the ongoing debate between artistic freedom and political sensitivity, following the cancellation of Amy Sherald's exhibition and the resignation of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet.
