Up next in 10
Amy Sherald pulls out of Smithsonian show over artwork removal
0 views
Jul 24, 2025
Amy Sherald withdrew from an upcoming Smithsonian show. It came after learning her transgender Statue of Liberty painting might be removed.
View Video Transcript
0:00
An artist whose work once grabbed national attention is pulling out of a Smithsonian exhibition over fears her art may be censored
0:10
Amy Sherald, famous for painting Michelle Obama's official portrait in 2018, withdrew from the upcoming show
0:17
And according to the New York Times, it was to avoid provoking President Donald Trump
0:22
She was told that one of her pieces, a portrait of the Statue of Liberty as a transgender woman
0:27
might be removed and instead replaced with a video of the public reacting to the artwork
0:33
Sherald is known for her vibrant portraits, exploring identity and American symbolism
0:38
Her show American Sublime at the National Portrait Gallery was set to make her the first
0:43
black contemporary artist to have a solo exhibition there. In a letter to the Smithsonian
0:48
Secretary, Sherald said she entered the project in good faith, expecting the museum to honor the
0:54
full complexity of American life. But she claims the conditions changed and the integrity of her
0:59
work was no longer guaranteed Sherald revealed that National Portrait Gallery staff raised concerns about including transforming liberty leading to discussions about its removal
1:10
She blamed institutional fear driven by political hostility toward trans lives. The Smithsonian has not commented directly to Shrader News, but told the New York Times it
1:21
understands Sherald's decision and regrets that the public won't see her work. They said they
1:26
could not reach an agreement with the artist but remain inspired by her art
1:30
Sherald's withdrawal comes amid heightened political pressure on cultural institutions. President Trump issued an executive order earlier this year calling on museums
1:40
including the Smithsonian, to promote shared American values and stop what he called a
1:45
divisive revisionist view of history. The exhibit was scheduled to open September 19
1:50
June 15th, 2025, showcasing 50 paintings from 2007 to today, including Cheryl's portraits of
1:57
Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor. For Straight Hour News, I'm Kaylee Carey. For more on this
2:02
story, download the Straight Hour News mobile app or go to san.com
#Discrimination & Identity Relations
#Human Rights & Liberties
#news