Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia Lewis, an American sculptor who made her career in Italy, brought a new, naturalistic approach to the neoclassical tradition. Her works were infused with both personal relevance and timely human rights issues. At the height of her fame in the late 1860s and 1870s, she captivated both Europeans and Americans. Her sculptures were exhibited from Boston to Chicago to San Francisco as well as in her studio in Rome.
Edmonia Lewis is the first African American artist in the United States to be recognized for her sculpture.

While it is abundantly clear that Lewis overcame enormous obstacles to become a sculptor, much about her life remains unknown. According to various sources, she was born in either 1843 or 1845, possibly in Newark, New Jersey, or rural New York. Her father was African American and her mother was of Ojibwa (Chippewa) descent, though both parents died within a few years of her birth. She may have been raised for awhile by her mother's family. As a child, Edmona was called Wildfire. This name was given to her by the Chippewa because of the carefree life she led. Her older brother encouraged her to go to Oberlin College in Ohio. This was the first college in the United States to accept women and African Americans as students. When Edmona entered college she changed her name to Mary Edmonia Lewis. She excelled in drawing and sculpture.

Her sculptures combined classical themes and her African American heritage. After college Edmonia moved to Boston and later to Rome, Italy where she made several important marble sculptures.

Source: Samella Lewis, “African Ameican Art for Young People”, Unity Works Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1991 – Distributed by Davis Publication.
“Forever Free” Edmonia Lewis 1867