Tour of American Sublime at The Whitney

American Sublime is a solo New York debut exhibition showcasing the work of Amy Sherald, an American Realist painter. Bringing together almost fifty paintings spanning her career from 2007 to the present showcasing her portraits of everyday Black Americans a population that was neglected by art history. Sherald became a household name when she won the commission to paint the First Lady Michaelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery. (which will be on view)

Sherald places her work within the lineage of American realism and portraiture alongside artist like Edward Hopper, Robert Henri, Alice Neel and Andrew Wyeth, all artist represented by the Whitney Museum’s collection. However, there is an obvious absence of Black Americans in these representations.  Her signature gray palette for skin tones deemphasizes the focus on race, expanding the narrative and showing there is more to an individual than the color of their skin. She is deeply committed to expanding notions of American identity.

In her intentional privileging of Black Americans as her subject she tells stories of an underrepresented population selecting anonymous sitters based on their inherent qualities. Photography is her sketch pad playing an important part in the creation of her paintings.  Through her dynamic portraits Sherald weaves a broader visual story of history and belonging portraying every day Black people as individuals just by simply existing.

Please join us for a tour of American Sublime at the Whitney Museum of American Art for a tour given by Gail Casale, Whitney docent and CHV member on May 8 at 11:00 AM. The group will be limited to 15 people. You can register by clicking on the green REGISTER button below.  Please purchase a museum admission ticket prior to the event, which can be done online here.  We will meet in the lobby just before 11:00 AM.  The Whitney Museum is located at 99 Gansevoort Street, NYC.

Gail Casale, event host

Carnegie Hill Village

www.carnegiehillvillage.org

If you do not have a CHV password or have trouble registering online, you may send an email [email protected].