How Amy Sherald Built Her Dream Life with No Plan B

Trials To Triumphs

The accomplished artist’s life changed dramatically after she was commissioned to make the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery. But this was no overnight success. Amy tells Ashley about the sacrifices she made along the way, including working as a waitress for 15 years while honing her skills. She describes feeling eclipsed as she watched friends achieve important milestones in their personal lives and careers. She also opens up about letting go of the need to appear perfect after growing up in a family that emulated the fictional Huxtables. Amy reveals how a life-changing medical diagnosis at age thirty provided clarity through her fear, leading her to leap toward her destiny without a backup plan.