[Arewà Basit] My name is Arewà Basit. I am so honored to be a muse of Amy Sherald's.
When I see this, I see all of the years being told that I had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. And when I found the truest meaning of what that pledge is, I see this version of Lady Liberty. And it's really just a lady who is empowered, empowering, and represents the fullness of what liberty and justice could give and what it can mean.
It's really, really wild, because I model. I'm a singer, I'm an artist, and so I'm very comfortable being in front of audiences and performing and to be completely honest, when I see this image, I see myself, I truly see myself, which is remarkable. What I'm seeing and feeling in this that I think excites me and makes me want to celebrate myself being perceived in this way is a pride. A full pride and acceptance of oneself.
And there are some moments where I think the world tries to tell us that being proud is a negative thing. Whether that be because of legislation, or the administration or other social systems that will try to tell me that I shouldn't be proud of who I am, I can always look back to this image and be reminded that the lack of pride will never serve me like the pride serves me.
A full-length portrait of a figure with gray-toned skin and bright pink curly hair, wearing a vibrant blue gown with a high slit. The figure holds a golden torch-like object with orange flowers in one hand and places the other hand on the hip. The background is pale pink.
Amy Sherald. Trans Forming Liberty. 2024. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth