Amy Sherald Withdraws Show Over Statue of Liberty Art
Published on 7.25.25
Artist Amy Sherald has withdrawn her solo show from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery after being told that one of her works, "Trans Forming Liberty," a depiction of the Statue of Liberty as a trans woman, may be removed due to concerns about offending President Donald Trump. Sherald had collaborated with the gallery on Obama's official portrait and was set to debut her latest show in September. However, she refused to alter or remove "Trans Forming Liberty" from the exhibition, citing institutional fear shaped by political hostility toward trans lives.