Our Board of Trustees
Amy Sherald
Amy Sherald is a nationally recognized American painter best known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama and her distinctive use of grayscale skin tones to challenge traditional representations of Black identity. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the Maryland Institute College of Art and the winner of the 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Sherald brings deep artistic expertise and national visibility to the board.
Andrew Jacobson, Esq.
Andrew Jacobson is Managing Partner of The Law Office of Andrew S. Jacobson LLC and an experienced attorney and business advisor based in Washington, DC and Maryland. His practice focuses on real estate, art law, and estate planning, supporting clients in navigating complex legal and regulatory matters. He provides the board with legal, governance, and risk management expertise.
Jeffrey Kent
Jeffrey Kent is a nationally known multidisciplinary artist, educator, and cultural organizer whose work explores race, history, and collective memory. He is the founder of multiple artist-centered spaces and initiatives in Baltimore and serves as an adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Kent brings extensive experience in artist development, cultural infrastructure, and community-based creative practice.
Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and media personality with restaurants and cultural ventures worldwide. He is the recipient of multiple James Beard Awards and an Emmy Award, and he is widely recognized for his leadership in food, culture, and entrepreneurship. Samuelsson contributes strategic insight, national reach, and philanthropic leadership to the board.
Mickalene Thomas
Mickalene Thomas is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist working across painting, collage, photography, and installation, widely recognized for her bold reimagining of art history and representations of Black women. A graduate of Pratt Institute and Yale University,
her work is held in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2025, Thomas brings global visibility, cultural leadership, and artistic excellence to the board.
