The traveling exhibition Amy Sherald: American Sublime has achieved a remarkable milestone by setting a new attendance record at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) since its debut last November, as announced by the museum this week.
A representative from BMA shared that attendance reached 63,000 by February 9 and is projected to hit 75,000 by the exhibition's conclusion on April 5. This makes Sherald's mid-career retrospective the most popular show at the museum since 2000, a noteworthy accomplishment given that BMA was not originally part of the American Sublime tour.
The exhibition features nearly 50 introspective grisaille portraits of Black Americans. It first opened at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in November 2024 before moving to the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan, where it ran from April to August 2025. This marked Sherald's inaugural solo exhibition at a New York museum.
Following its time at the Whitney, Sherald's work was set to be showcased at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery but was canceled by the artist due to concerns over censorship regarding a specific painting.
The contested piece, titled Trans Forming Liberty (2024), portrays Arewà Basit, a prominent Black transwoman and drag performer, in a pose reminiscent of Lady Liberty. The artist expressed her concerns regarding the conditions under which the exhibition was to be presented, ultimately deciding to withdraw.
After the cancellation, the BMA stepped in to host American Sublime, having already planned to honor Sherald with an award. A survey conducted among over 2,000 exhibition attendees revealed that 85% were Maryland residents, with nearly a quarter visiting the museum for the first time to see the exhibition.
Visitors from 35 states, as well as some international guests primarily from Europe, attended the show. Notably, 30% of respondents were under 50 years old, and 47% spent two or more hours exploring the exhibition.
BMA Director Asma Naeem commented on the exhibition's impact, stating, "What we're hearing repeatedly is how deeply people feel seen, moved, and connected in these galleries. This moment reflects not only her enduring influence as an artist rooted in this city but also the power of art to unite people and evoke joy."
The exhibition will conclude its tour at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, where it will be displayed from May 15 to September 27.
