#5663 - Edmonia Lewis

Mary Edmonia Lewis (1844–1907) was an American sculptor, of African-American and Native American heritage. Born in Upstate New York, she spent most of her career in Rome, Italy. Her work is known for incorporating themes relating to Black people and indigenous peoples of the Americas into Neoclassical-style sculpture. She was the first African-American and Native American sculptor to achieve national and international fame for her work. She began to gain prominence in the United States during the Civil War. Near the end of the 19th century, she was the only Black woman artist to have participated in and been recognized by the general American art community. In 2002, Molefi Kete Asante, a leader in the field of African-American studies, named Edmonia Lewis on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans. Scott 5663 Edmonia Lewis