I’ve always loved a good “Me Day” where I take the day off and spend it by myself, doing whatever I want. And since becoming a mom I really see the value and importance in that self-care time. Recently, I took a day off to drive into Atlanta and visit the High Museum. Over the summer they featured an exhibit on Amy Sherald’s works. I’ve seen 2 of her most famous works of art on separate occasions, at the High Museum and at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Michelle Obama’s portrait by Sherald was on display at the High when the Obama’s portraits were on tour and Breonna Taylor’s portrait was at the Smithsonian. Both were on display at the High during this exhibit so I got the opportunity to see them again.
What I love about Amy’s artwork is the way she uses the gray scale for skin and hair color so the colors of her subject’s clothing, props, and background really pop. There was a short film at the exhibit detailing Sherald’s whole process from conception to photographing the live subjects to bringing it to life on canvas. It was really cool to see how the pieces I had just seen in person came to be. I truly enjoyed being alone for this experience because I was able to take my time looking at each portrait for as long as I wanted to. There is nothing more annoying than going to a museum with someone who wants to speed walk through it.
Below is a collection of photos I took of some of the artwork. At the gift shop I bought a postcard of Michelle’s portrait and a magnet of For Love, and for Country, one of my favorites, you can see below.
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