The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) picked up artist Amy Sherald’s exhibition ‘American Sublime’ after Sherald rescinded her planned exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. This was after the museum allegedly considered pulling a piece named ‘Trans Forming Liberty’ from the exhibition to conform to President Trump’s anti-trans mandates.
‘Trans Forming Liberty’ is a 10 foot portrait of a Black non-binary trans-femme person recast as the Statue of Liberty. The painting is part of ‘American Sublime,’ which includes numerous other portraits of Black people in their everyday lives, including a portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama.
‘American Sublime’ sold out almost immediately at the BMA. Antoinette Roberts, assistant curator of contemporary art at the BMA and member of the curatorial team for “American Sublime,” said this was a way for the BMA to stand up for Sherald.
“I also think that we felt a really deep responsibility to the audiences here in the DMV, that they deserve to see this work on view. Amy [Sherald] has said that, you know, she didn’t grow up frequently going to museums, and speaks really passionately about her first experience seeing a Black person in a painting, in a museum, ” said Roberts.
Roberts said for people who see themselves or their loved ones reflected in ‘Trans Forming Liberty,’ that the representation the piece provides is deeply important. She also said that even if people cannot personally relate to the piece, they can still learn more about the world that they live in through works of art like it.
“There’s something really powerful that happens, when you see yourself reflected, and in a space like a museum… And so I think that our job as a museum is to make sure that as many people can see themselves on our museum walls as possible. And then beyond that, to help people learn more about the world around them.” said Roberts.
Melissa Girard, Associate Professor of English at Loyola, shared how ‘Trans Forming Liberty’ offers a more in depth look at the relationship between trans people and their rights.
“You know, she’s offering us a new perspective on how trans people and trans rights, and the idea of transliberation relates to American ideals of freedom and equality… it’s a touchstone for who we are as Americans and our own personal stories and personal relationships with the Statue of Liberty,” Girard said.
Danika Trucchi ‘26, a student studying Political Science and Gender and Sexuality Studies thinks ‘Trans Forming Liberty’ is such an important work for people to see and not ignore, because trans people are not going anywhere, and remain a strong part of American society.
“I think that the portrait portrays something that is a very real, like, American reality in general that I think people, first of all, should not ignore. And I think we’ve come to a point where we cannot ignore it,” Trucchi said.
For artist updates, follow Amy Sherald on Instagram, and stay updated with future exhibitions on the Baltimore Museum of Art Website.
