Artist Amy Sherald has withdrawn her upcoming exhibit, American Sublime, from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery following pressure from Vice President JD Vance, who raised concerns about what he called “woke and divisive” content, Fox News Digital has learned.
The exhibit, originally slated to open in September, featured Sherald’s controversial painting Trans Forming Liberty, a portrait of a transgender woman reimagined as the Statue of Liberty. Sherald said she was informed the gallery had reservations about including the piece, which ultimately led to her decision to pull the entire show.
Vance Cites Executive Order, Calls Exhibit Divisive
Vice President Vance reportedly cited President Donald Trump’s March executive order, which authorizes him to oversee the removal of federal programs and museum content that “degrade shared American values,” promote racial division, or conflict with federal law. During a June 9 meeting with the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, Vance argued Sherald’s exhibit violated that order, according to a source familiar with the discussion.
“Vice President Vance has been leading the effort to eliminate woke indoctrination from our beloved Smithsonian museums,” a White House official told Fox News Digital.
Vance, who has played a key role in advancing the administration’s legislative agenda and foreign policy, has also taken a hard line on cultural programming at federally funded institutions.
Sherald: ‘I Stand By My Work’
Sherald, widely known for her official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, said she could not support what she described as a culture of censorship.
“This painting exists to hold space for someone whose humanity has been politicized and disregarded,” she said in a statement first reported by The New York Times. “I cannot in good conscience comply with a culture of censorship, especially when it targets vulnerable communities.”
She emphasized that the decision to withdraw the exhibit was driven by the growing political hostility toward transgender individuals.
“At a time when transgender people are being legislated against, silenced, and endangered, silence is not an option,” Sherald said. “I stand by my work. I stand by my sitters. I stand by the truth that all people deserve to be seen — not only in life, but in art.”
White House Praises Decision
The White House welcomed the exhibit’s cancellation, framing it as a necessary course correction for national institutions.
“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,” said Trump special assistant Lindsey Halligan.
“The Statue of Liberty is not an abstract canvas for political expression,” Halligan added. “It is a revered and solemn symbol of freedom, inspiration, and national unity.”
Smithsonian Silent on Vance’s Role
The Smithsonian Institution has not publicly commented on Vice President Vance’s role in the matter. However, Sherald’s withdrawal appears to reflect internal concerns at the National Portrait Gallery about showcasing the painting amid intensifying political scrutiny.
The Smithsonian Board of Regents includes high-profile members such as Chief Justice John Roberts, Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Gary Peters (D-MI), along with several members of the House of Representatives.
As the Trump administration continues rolling back Biden-era diversity initiatives, Sherald’s exhibit marks the latest flashpoint in the broader cultural debate over the role of art in shaping American identity.
