Artist Amy Sherald cancels Smithsonian exhibit, citing 'culture of censorship'
Artist Amy Sherald, who is famous for painting Michelle Obama’s portrait at the National Portrait Gallery, confirmed to ABC News in a statement on Friday morning that she had cancelled her upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian, “American Sublime,” citing a “culture of censorship."
Sherald said she was informed that the gallery had “concerns” about her painting of a trans Statue of Liberty, which she said led to “discussions about removing it.”
“While no single person is to blame, it’s clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives played a role,” Sherald said in a statement to ABC News. “This painting exists to hold space for someone whose humanity has been politicized and disregarded. I cannot in good conscience comply with a culture of censorship, especially when it targets vulnerable communities.”
ABC News has reached out to the Smithsonian for comment, but Sherald’s exhibit appears to have been removed from its website.
Sherald’s exhibit is currently on view at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City through Aug. 10, but was expected to travel to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. and be on view from Sept. 19 until Feb. 22, 2026.
This comes after the Smithsonian last month affirmed its autonomy from outside influences in a June 9 statement after President Trump announced that he fired National Portrait Gallery head Kim Sajet for being a "highly partisan person." Sajet resigned on June 13.
Trump signed an executive order in March placing Vice President J.D. Vance in charge of supervising efforts to "remove improper ideology" from all areas of the Smithsonian and targeted funding for programs that advance "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology.”
"I cannot in good conscience comply with a culture of censorship," said Sherald. "Especially when it targets vulnerable communities."
ABC News' Tesfaye Negussie contributed to this report.
