Mary Edmonia Lewis is known today as the first professional African-American sculptor. Though racism, false accusations of theft and poisoning, and poverty threatened to keep her out of the art world, her marble sculptures earned her worldwide renown. Few of her pieces survive today, but her portfolio is extensive; her sculptures had Greco-Roman influences, but she was known primarily for expressing her dual Native-American and African-American heritage. You can read her full biography here.
Edmonia Lewis
Anna Quincy Waterston, 1866
Edmonia Lewis
Old Arrow Maker, 1872
Edmonia Lewis
The Death of Cleopatra, 1876
If you’re more of a words person than a visual person, or if you just want to experience more of Edmonia Lewis’s lasting impact on art and culture, you might consider reading these poems by Tyehimba Jess. If you’re a current Odyssey student at UIUC, keep that name in mind, as you may be hearing about a relevant event soon!
The poems can be read at this link, and are titled “Alabaster Hands” and “Indian Combat.” Both are inspired by Lewis’s work.
Odyssey, Extra! 