a quiet kind of powerful: amy sherald at the whitney.
Last week, I wandered over to the Whitney Museum on a quiet, slow weekday afternoon to see the exhibition Amy Sherald: American Sublime, and honestly, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The experience left a lasting impression that continues to resonate with me.
If you’ve ever stood in front of one of her paintings, you know exactly that feeling — as if time itself slows down around you. Her portraits have a subtle power that holds you in place, inviting quiet reflection. They’re soft, still, and strong all at once, capturing a delicate balance of emotion and presence. And this show? It’s a full-body exhale, a moment of release that lingers long after you step away.
Sherald paints Black life with a kind of reverence that feels both radical and deeply necessary in today’s cultural landscape. Her figures are dressed in bold, vibrant colors, set against dreamy, flat backdrops, yet their skin is rendered in grayscale — a deliberate choice that shifts the emphasis from race to shared humanity, while still firmly centering Black identity. This visual quietness invites the viewer to pause, to look again, and to look closer with renewed attention and respect.
The exhibition, which spans nearly 20 years of her remarkable career, features some of her most iconic and powerful pieces — including her well-known portrait of Michelle Obama and her heartfelt tribute to Breonna Taylor. It also showcases new commissions and impressive large-scale works that are exclusive to this venue. Additionally, there’s a striking four-panel installation displayed outside the museum, stretched across the Gansevoort Street facade, welcoming and captivating visitors before they even step inside.
What struck me most profoundly was how tender and deeply intimate it all felt. These aren’t just simple portraits; they are vivid, compelling stories captured in a single frame. A girl in a flowing prom dress, clutching a skateboard, embodies both elegance and rebellion. A young man dressed sharply in a striped suit stands confidently against a vibrant turquoise wall. Two Black sailors sharing a tender kiss, reimagining a historic V-J Day moment with fresh meaning. Sherald’s work invites us to ask: what does it truly mean to simply exist—not as a symbol or a societal statement, but as a fully realized, complex person? And crucially, who gets to be seen and recognized in that honest, unfiltered way?
Walking through the show, I felt deeply held and warmly embraced by the atmosphere around me. It was as if I were witnessing a powerful and transformative reclamation of space, history, and beauty — woven together with an undeniable softness. These are qualities we are often denied or overlooked, especially within the realm of art, where the harshness of reality can sometimes overshadow the gentle, nuanced expressions that quietly speak to our shared humanity.
If you’re in NYC this summer, definitely go. Take your time with it—don’t rush. Find a bench, sit down, and soak it all in. Look a little longer and appreciate the moment.
this is Black life, seen with care. this is American life, reimagined.
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amy sherald: american sublime
📍 the whitney museum of american art
🗓️ on view through august 10, 2025
🎟️ whitney.org/exhibitions/amy-sherald
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