Amy Sherald: The World We Make

Amy Sherald: The World We Make offers the first comprehensive look at one of the most influential portrait painters working today. Published to accompany Sherald's landmark solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth London, this richly illustrated monograph brings together her celebrated portraits of Black Americans alongside earlier works, in-studio photographs, and insightful essays that explore her artistic vision and process. A conversation between Sherald and acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates, along with newly commissioned texts by Jenni Sorkin and Kevin Quashie, provides deeper perspectives on her work, making this an essential volume for contemporary art enthusiasts, museum visitors, and admirers of portraiture. A fitting companion to Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, this book celebrates the artists shaping the future of contemporary art.

About the Artist:

Amy Sherald is an acclaimed American painter known for her distinctive portraits of Black Americans, often set against bold, colorful backgrounds. She gained international recognition after painting the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery in 2018, becoming the first African American woman to receive the commission. Today, her work is celebrated in museums and collections around the world for its thoughtful exploration of identity, representation, and everyday life.

Hardcover / 193 pages

Dimensions: 9.75" x 11.75"

Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys brings together monumental contemporary art and historic masterworks from the personal collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. On view from September 19, 2026 – February 28, 2027 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, this landmark exhibition explores Black identity, creativity, power, and cultural legacy through the work of some of today's most influential artists. Learn More