The highly anticipated unveiling of Barack and Michelle Obama's presidential portraits happened Monday at The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery — and the portraits caused quite the conversation.
The Obamas, who each saw the portraits for the first time, delivered remarks praising the painters for their work. Renowned artist Kehinde Wiley created the portrait of Barack, while Baltimore artist Amy Sherald produced the one on Michelle.
While Barack's portrait by Wiley seemed to receive universal praise, that wasn't so much the case for Michelle's portrayal by Sherald as some among Black Twitter shared their dislike online — saying they didn't believe the painting was an accurate depiction.
That… portrait… does not look like Michelle Obama— Monique Judge (@thejournalista) February 12, 2018
that michelle obama portrait looks
mm.— Xavier D'Leau (@XavierDLeau) February 12, 2018
I…. That official Michelle Obama portrait? Great gowns, beautiful gowns.— Carlatté (@carlettaisgreat) February 12, 2018
Many among the critics couldn't understand why Sherald chose to paint Michelle's skin gray as opposed to opting for a more realistic portrayal showing her glowing brown skin. However, Sherald has a reason for that — as almost all of her work features life-size people of color depicted with gray skin.
In a recent interview with the The Baltimore Sun, Sherald said the gray skin is “A way for me to subversively comment about race without feeling as though I’m excluding the viewer.”
Other works by Amy Sherald, the artist who did Michelle Obama’s portrait pic.twitter.com/44kfI4MaXC— Bria Celest (@55mmbae) February 12, 2018
Love Amy Sherald’s portrait style so much! The greyscale. The way she uses clothes. Especially ????Michelle Obama’s dress. More of her art: https://t.co/BfWIglgoAi#ObamaPortraits #art pic.twitter.com/fSwHEyI8za— MadameSoybean (@MadameSoybean) February 12, 2018
After unveiling her portrait on Monday, Sherald delivered a few remarks about the painting and her work as a whole:
"I find my models, I style them and photograph them," she said. My approach to portrait is conceptual. I see something bigger, more symbolic — an archetype, this portrait delivers the same kind of symbolism."
"As a painter of American stories, I truly consider today to be a milestone in my life’s work," she added.
While Sherald is known for painting African Americans with grayscale, some even pointed out that Sherald doesn't strictly stick to mainly gray hues.
Amy paints with vibrant colors too. She uses strong hues that are missing completely from her portrait of Michelle Obama, and for me, that's disappointing because FLOTUS is a dynamo. The colors used for her portrait feel so flat. https://t.co/JLgcPuIbV2— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) February 12, 2018
The criticisms even erupted in a debate around art critique and what gets to be said as well as who gets to say it, especially given the loaded nature behind the artist's subjects.
Save the discourteous commentary on the Obama portraits if the last time you visited an art museum was when you needed a parental permission slip— Ira Madison III (@ira) February 12, 2018
so what's the minimum amount of museum visits one is supposed to have before we are allowed to offer criticism? https://t.co/JgmRdHdJu3— ???????? so real, surreal (@FunkyJazzCat) February 12, 2018
The revealing of President & First Lady Obama's portraits is a great opportunity for those who know & love art to be in a learning conversation with those who don't. Instead of, you know, making fun of them.— Ashley C. Ford (@iSmashFizzle) February 12, 2018
