Titus Kaphar is an American contemporary painter and filmmaker whose work reconfigures and regenerates art history to include African-American subjects.

The project was inspired by Kaphar's attempt to paint a portrait of his aunt, only to realize that parts of his memories of her were fictive.

He spoke about the experience while promoting his show: "It occurred to me that, for some reason, my brain had decided to insert her into periods in my life when I needed extra support.

The woman who sits here is not just simply a representation of Sally Hemings, she's more of a symbol of many of the Black women whose stories have been shrouded by the narratives of our deified founding fathers.

"[16] Behind the Myth of Benevolence was damaged on three occasions while it was on view at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., prompting the museum to post security guards by the painting for the remainder of its exhibition.

The film stars André Holland, Andra Day, John Earl Jelks and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

[23] Kaphar has also participated in a large number of group exhibitions, including The Black Index (2021), and Afro-Atlantic Histories (2022).

The work is a reimagined presentation of John Faed's Portrait of George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton (1856).