Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald is an American painter best known for her striking portraits of Black Americans. Born in Georgia in 1973, she developed a distinctive approach, painting skin in shades of gray while dressing her subjects in bright, patterned clothing against bold, flat backgrounds. This choice draws attention to her sitters as individuals while gently questioning how race is seen.

She became widely known in 2018 when she painted the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, a landmark commission. Her calm, dignified figures gaze directly out at the viewer, quietly commanding attention. Sherald's work celebrates everyday Black life and has made her one of the most admired portrait painters in America today.