Columbus-born Amy Sherald named to TIME100 Art list, first living painter solo on cover in 50 years

Amy Sherald, the Columbus-born painter who gained national attention for her official portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama, is featured on Time’s inaugural TIME100 Art list and appears as the first living painter to grace the magazine’s cover alone in 50 years. The recognition underscores Sherald’s rising influence in contemporary art and spotlights the local roots of a nationally celebrated creative career.

From Columbus classrooms to national visibility

Sherald was raised in Columbus and graduated in 1991 from St. Anne–Pacelli Catholic School. Local influences remain central to how she describes her artistic development. The Ledger-Enquirer reported Sherald credits the late artist and teacher Geri Davis, who taught at her school, for planting an early seed that helped inspire her pursuit of art. She has also said that being one of the few Black students at a private school in Columbus helped shape her thinking about race and identity—an influence visible throughout her work.

After leaving Columbus, Sherald attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, a move that marked a turning point in her career. Her early, autobiographical work evolved into broader examinations of African-American cultural history and body representation. She is known for a distinctive grisaille technique that deliberately questions assumptions linking color with race.

Recognition and milestones

National recognition accelerated after Sherald won first prize in the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in 2016. That award led to the commission for the Michelle Obama portrait, which significantly raised her profile. More recently, her exhibition "American Sublime" completed a two-year, four-museum tour, a major institutional presence that preceded her placement on Time’s new list.

• 1991: Graduated St. Anne–Pacelli Catholic School (Columbus)
• Attended Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore)
• 2016: Won National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition
• Commissioned to paint Michelle Obama’s official portrait
• Recently completed a two-year, four-museum tour of "American Sublime"
• 2026: Named to TIME100 Art list and appears solo on Time cover as a living painter

"The selection reflects artists whose vision is expanding the possibilities of art and shaping the global conversation," Time CEO Jessica Sibley told Artdependence Magazine.

Time’s new franchise highlights not only artists but also the dealers, curators, collectors and museum leaders who support the field. Editor in chief Sam Jacobs noted that roughly half the honorees are not artists themselves but those who make exhibitions and institutions possible.

What this means for Columbus

Sherald’s prominence brings attention back to Columbus, where residents and local arts organizations can point to a direct line between neighborhood schools and international recognition. Local educators and arts advocates often cite Sherald’s path—early encouragement from a classroom teacher, formal training at an art college and national awards—as a model for nurturing talent.

While Sherald now works and exhibits on a national scale, her origins in Columbus remain part of the narrative that surrounds her work. For local museums, schools and arts programs, her profile on Time’s list may translate into renewed interest in partnerships, student programs and opportunities to showcase work by artists with Columbus ties.

For Columbus residents, Sherald’s achievements are both a point of civic pride and a reminder of the potential impact of arts education. As national outlets continue to chronicle her career, local leaders in education and the arts may find new leverage to expand programs that support young artists who, like Sherald, began their journeys in Columbus classrooms.