doi:10.7916/5mbv-6m08Oral history interview with Amy Sherald, 2021Sherald, Amyoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesArtistsAfrican American artistsSherald, AmyObama, BarackObama, Michelle, 1964-Wiley, Kehinde, 1977-National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution)Amy Sherald shares stories of her life and career, and reflects on her experience as the official portraitist for First Lady Michelle Obama. Sherald discusses her upbringing in Georgia, her path to becoming an artist, the development of her artistic voice, and major breakthroughs in her career, including her receipt of first prize in the National Portrait Gallery's Outwit Boochever Portrait Competition for "Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)." She also remembers the Oval Office meeting with President Obama and the first lady at which she was selected as the official portraitist, recounts her process of styling and working with Michelle Obama, and describes composing the portrait and unveiling it alongside Kehinde Wiley, President Obama's portraitist. Also discussed are the evolution of Michelle Obama's style over the course of the Obama presidency, the artists that have influenced Sherald throughout her career, and Sherald's experience of suddenly becoming a well-known artist