Edmonia Lewis
Sculptor (1844-1907) New York, Rome, London
The daughter of an African-American father, half Haitian—a freed slave—and an indigenous mother from the Ojibwe people, Edmonia was born, a famous and renowned sculptor and anti-racist activist. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her aunts and brother within the Ojibwe nation. Her brother left the nomadic community to become a gold prospector in California and was thus able to pay for his sister's studies. Lewis enrolled at Oberlin College, where she developed a deep passion for art. During her stay there, she faced numerous racist episodes. She was falsely accused of poisoning two white roommates, which led to a white mob capturing and beating her. Although she was acquitted at trial, she was unable to finish her studies. She was 15 years old. Edmonia Lewis moved to Boston, where she worked for well-known abolitionists of the time and, in 1864, held her first solo exhibition. However, "in the land of the free there was no room for a black sculptor," she declared, so she travelled to Rome, where she had to fight against a patriarchal and sexist art world. Nevertheless, her work evolved and gained international recognition. Her sculptures speak of the fight against racism and slavery, embodying the strength, self-love and insubordination of their creator.
Remember: Sizes may vary by 1 to 2 centimeters.
