Artist Amy Sherald canceled her solo show American Sublime at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery after learning the institution considered altering or removing her painting Trans Forming Liberty, a depiction of the Statue of Liberty as a transgender figure. Sherald said internal concerns emerged about the piece’s content and its potential to offend President Trump.
Sherald, best known for painting Michelle Obama’s official portrait, said she entered the exhibition in good faith. She believed the gallery shared her commitment to reflecting “the full, complex truth of American life.” When told of the museum’s conditions, she concluded the integrity of her work was compromised and withdrew from the partnership.
According to Sherald, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III suggested replacing the painting with a video featuring audience reactions and commentary on transgender issues. She rejected the proposed format, arguing that these reactions would undermine trans visibility and dilute the artistic intent.
The Smithsonian disputed Sherald’s claim. Its spokesperson stated, “The video was to accompany the painting as a way to contextualize the piece… It was not to replace Amy Sherald’s painting.” The institution expressed disappointment that audiences will not see American Sublime, which was to be the first solo exhibition at the Portrait Gallery by a Black contemporary artist.
Sherald cited what she called a “culture of political hostility toward trans lives,” attributing it to increasing political pressure on public institutions. She emphasized that at a time when transgender rights are under attack legislatively, silence is unacceptable.
The controversy unfolded amid a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on cultural institutions. In March, an executive order competed to remove what it deemed ideological content from federal venues. Trump targeted the Smithsonian, claimed it had embraced “divisive, race‑centered ideology,” and his executive actions helped prompt the resignation of Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet in June.
Sherald withdrew American Sublime after it had already appeared at the Whitney Museum in New York and SFMOMA in San Francisco. The Whitney will continue hosting the exhibition through August 10.
