All things bright and beautiful 2016

Amy Sherald, sometime this century, painted 'All things bright and beautiful', and what’s really striking is how she approaches color, not just as representation, but as a way of seeing, a process in itself. The grey tones of the figure, set against the yellow background, creates this kind of dreamy disconnect. The paint isn't trying to hide itself, you know? You can see the brushstrokes, the texture. It's right there on the surface. The dress, with its purple base and pop of colorful patterns, becomes this focal point, and you get a sense of the subject having her own distinct identity, a real presence. Look how the light catches the edge of her hand – just a sliver of brightness that makes her gesture so alive. I see a bit of Elizabeth Peyton in Sherald’s work, a similar approach to portraiture, and a sense of capturing a moment that feels both intimate and iconic. Art's always talking to itself, and we’re lucky to listen in.