Breonna Taylor, 2020

Amy Sherald: When I painted Breonna Taylor in 2020, I wanted to honor her not just as a symbol of injustice, but as a woman who lived, loved, and was deeply loved in return. The opportunity came through Vanity Fair and Ta-Nehisi Coates, during a moment when the world was grieving and demanding accountability. I worked from photographs provided by her family, but also a well-circulated selfie that I had found on Instagram. Choosing an image that captured her quiet strength and self-assurance. The soft blue of her dress, the gentle positioning of her hands.

These were choices meant to reflect the grace and dignity that should have carried her through a full life. As I painted, I found myself thinking about who she was beyond the headlines. A daughter, a partner, a dreamer. Looking back at the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 from today's perspective, I see this portrait as both a tribute and a call to remember. The work of justice is unfinished, but memory is a powerful thing. My hope is that this painting offers a space to see Breonna fully, to hold her presence, to honor her life, and to never forget.