Brooklyn Museum
Amy Sherald
PainterKnown for:
grayscale figurative portraiture; the official portrait of Michelle Obama (2018)
Education:
Clark Atlanta University (BA, 1997); Maryland Institute College of Art (MFA, 2004)
Amy Sherald paints her subjects in grayscale skin tones - departing from naturalistic flesh color to create a formal distance that she has described as liberating her subjects from racial categorization - against solid, saturated color backgrounds. She was commissioned to paint the official portrait of Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery in 2018, a painting that attracted record attendance when it went on display. She studied at Maryland Institute College of Art and the Spelman College after graduating from Clark-Atlanta University.
Amy Sherald's Gear List(1)
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Connection Source
TheartstoryWebsite
Connection note
Mixes Naples Yellow with black to create her signature grisaille skin tones, a technique learned under Odd Nerdrum
Product description
Oil paint — pigment suspended in a drying oil, typically linseed — has been the dominant painting medium since the fifteenth century. It dries slowly, allowing extended blending, and produces a rich, luminous surface. Available from dozens of manufacturers at student through professional grades.
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Last updated March 20, 2026
