Edmonia Lewis

First African-Native American sculptor to achieve international acclaim

Edmonia Lewis (c. 1844–1907) shattered racial and artistic barriers as the first professional Black/Native American sculptor. Born to a Chippewa mother and Haitian father, she rose from poverty to study at Oberlin College before launching her career in Rome during the 1860s.

Her neoclassical masterpiece 'The Death of Cleopatra' (1876) stunned viewers at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Unlike idealized European depictions, Lewis portrayed Cleopatra in realistic post-mortem rigor, challenging Victorian sensibilities. Another notable work, 'Forever Free' (1867), symbolized emancipation through a Black man breaking chains while a kneeling woman prays.

Operating in an era when most female artists were confined to still lifes, Lewis created monumental marble sculptures addressing abolitionism and Indigenous rights. Her success opened doors for minority artists, yet her legacy was nearly erased until 21st-century scholars revived interest in her transnational artistry blending African, Native, and European influences.