The painting was featured on the cover of The New Yorker in August 2025 and depicts a non-binary, trans-femme person as a modern Statue of Liberty.
Fifty trans hurdles. Examining my lost privilege. | by Amy J. Ko amy tranny galleries
Sherald recently withdrew a major exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in 2025 citing censorship concerns regarding this specific, political work. The painting was featured on the cover of
It reclaims the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of inclusivity and freedom, applying the poem "The New Colossus" ("Give me your tired, your poor...") to the trans community. | by Amy J
Sherald created this piece as a direct response to rising legislation and threats against transgender people in the U.S..
For a personal perspective on the trans experience, you can read insights from writer and academic Amy J. Ko, who discusses "trans hurdles" and the concept of "trans-feminine disasters" in her Medium column .