When I Let Go Of What I Am, I Become What I Might Be 2018

Amy Sherald made this striking portrait, "When I Let Go Of What I Am, I Become What I Might Be," with paint on canvas; each brushstroke feels like a step in a dance between control and release. What I love about Sherald's work is her use of grisaille for the skin tones; it's so unexpected and forces you to really *see* the person beyond any easy categorization. And the way she layers color in the clothes—that brown jacket with the little flower detail, paired with the green pants. The paint isn't overworked; it’s laid down with a kind of confident simplicity. Look closely at the flower, those little orange petals that offer a burst of warmth against the cool background. It's as though Sherald is whispering, "Artmaking is a process of becoming," which resonates with the title. Jacob Lawrence comes to mind; his work deals with similar questions of identity and representation, but in a very different visual language. In the end, art's about seeing—and letting go of what we think we know.