Right up I-95 in Baltimore, the subject of an Amy Sherald painting is reimagining community building with urban farming.
Denzel Mitchell, a former teacher-turned-chef and urban farmer, is the subject of the well-known portrait “A God Blessed Land (Empire of Dirt).” Sherald, the artist known for Michelle Obama’s iconic White House portrait, painted Mitchell on a John Deere tractor and overalls outside of his Maryland farm in 2022.
Sherald has said much of her work is inspired by Baltimore, where she began her career. Mitchell’s portrait was on display November 2024 through February 2026 at the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of her “American Sublime” exhibit…