Artist pulls art from Smithsonian gallery after museum tries to alter her trans Statue of Liberty painting
Artist Amy Sherald withdrew her solo show from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery after she was told her painting 'Trans Forming Liberty' — a depiction of the Statue of Liberty as a trans woman — may be removed by the gallery.
'I entered into this collaboration in good faith, believing that the institution shared a commitment to presenting work that reflects the full, complex truth of American life. Unfortunately, it has become clear that the conditions no longer support the integrity of the work as conceived,' Sherald said in a letter to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch III.
Sherald painted the portrait of Obama currently owned by the National Portrait Gallery. The work, which is a grayscale image of the former First Lady that features some brighter colors near the bottom of her floor-length dress, generated controversy when it was unveiled in 2018.
5 American Sublime Opening Party, Whitney Museum of American Art, Manhattan, New York, United States – 02 Apr 2025.
Sansho Scott/BFA.com / Shutterstock
Critics online savaged the more abstract elements of the portrait, and some ripped the work for not looking anything like Obama.
Courting controversy once again, Sherald refused to have 'Trans Forming Liberty' altered or removed from her 'American Sublime' gallery that was set to debut at the museum in September. In a statement she produced Thursday that was shared with Fox News Digital, the artist said she was 'informed that concerns had been raised internally' about the work.
'These concerns led to discussions about removing the work from the exhibition,' she said. '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.'
5 Amy Sherald attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.
Getty Images
In a separate statement obtained by The Times, Sherald said that Bunch had proposed replacing the transgender depiction with a video of people reacting to it — an idea the artist rejected.
'When I understood a video would replace the painting, I decided to cancel,' she said. 'The video would have opened up for debate the value of trans visibility and I was opposed to that being a part of the 'American Sublime' narrative.'
However, a Smithsonian spokesperson disputed Sherald's account of Bunch's proposed alterations.
5 The exterior of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery June 9, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post via Getty Images
'The video was to accompany the painting as a way to contextualize the piece, 'It was not to replace Amy Sherald's painting,' they said in a statement.
When asked for comment, the Smithsonian pointed Fox News Digital to its recent statement on the matter.
'While we understand Amy's decision to withdraw her show from the National Portrait Gallery, we are disappointed that Smithsonian audiences will not have an opportunity to experience 'American Sublime,'' it read.
5 Visitors view the official portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama by Amy Sherald at The Art Institute of Chicago on June 18, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.
Getty Images
'Unfortunately, we could not come to an agreement with the artist. We remain appreciative and inspired by Ms. Sherald, her artwork and commitment to portraiture,' it added.
Sherald's exit comes after Trump signed an executive order in March to remove leftist ideology and historical revisionism from government institutions. In the order, he called out the Smithsonian for having 'come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.'
'This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive,' he added.
5 Amy Sherald at the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show, New York Public Library, NYC, Manhattan, New York, United States – 30 Jun 2025.
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Trump also declared he would be firing the Portrait Gallery's director, Kim Sajet, for being a 'strong supporter of D.E.I.' Sajet resigned from her role in June.
The White House provided Fox News Digital with a quote from Trump admin official Lindsey Halligan blasting Sherald's artwork.
'The 'Trans Forming Liberty' painting, which sought to reinterpret one of our nation's most sacred symbols through a divisive and ideological lens, fundamentally strayed from the mission and spirit of our national museums. The Statue of Liberty is not an abstract canvas for political expression — it is a revered and solemn symbol of freedom, inspiration, and national unity that defines the American spirit.'
She added, 'President Trump's Executive Order mandates that such institutions serve not as platforms for ideological division, but as sources of unity, inspiration and pride of our shared history. The removal of this exhibit is a principled and necessary step toward restoring that purpose.'
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