Innocent You. Innocent Me 2016

Amy Sherald made 'Innocent You. Innocent Me' with paint, aiming for something more than just a picture. Look how she handles color; the background is a flat, almost digital-looking blue, setting off the figure in a way that feels both real and slightly unreal. The surfaces are smooth, and the brushwork is so controlled that it almost disappears. It’s like she’s trying to show us the essence of the person, not just what they look like. I keep coming back to the ice cream cone, held so gently. It's a pop of sweetness against the grey skin tones, and it makes you think about vulnerability and how we present ourselves. Sherald reminds me a little of Barkley Hendricks, in the way she elevates the everyday into something iconic. It’s not just about representation, but about creating space for different ways of seeing and being seen.