Amy Sherald: The World We Make

The long-awaited first major monograph on the iconic portraitist of Black Americans.

This extensive monograph provides a thorough exploration of renowned artist Amy Sherald, known for her recognizable realist portraits of African American individuals set against striking and monochromatic backdrops or everyday scenes. Sherald gained recognition when former first lady Michelle Obama selected her to paint her official portrait for the National Portrait Gallery in 2018, making her the first African American woman to receive such an honor. Alongside reproductions of Sherald's recent works, this book, published to coincide with her solo exhibit at Hauser & Wirth London in fall 2022, also features depictions of earlier paintings and an inside look at her creative process through a series of in-studio photographs. Newly commissioned texts include an art historical analysis of Sherald's work by Jenni Sorkin, an exploration of the politics and aesthetics of her portraiture by cultural scholar Kevin Quashie, and a conversation between Sherald and acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Born in Georgia in 1973, Amy Sherald holds an MFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (2004). She has participated in numerous group exhibitions at galleries and museums around the world, and has also had solo shows at Hauser & Wirth and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Currently residing in Baltimore and New Jersey, Sherald is a highly esteemed artist in the field of painting.