Edmonia Lewis

Mary Edmonia Lewis (, 1844 – September 17, 1907) was an American sculptor. She is known for marble statues.

Life
Lewis was born in 1844 in Greenbush (now Rensselaer), New York. Her mother was a Native American from the Ojibwe tribe. Her father was from the country of Haiti. She was taught art at The Ladies' Department of Oberlin College in Ohio. She did not graduate, but left school in 1863 after being physically attacked by racists.

Lewis began her career by creating clay statues of famous abolitionists and American Civil War generals. Her work sold well. She made enough money to travel to Rome, Italy to see statues created by important sculptors in history.

Lewis stayed in Rome and set up a studio there. She preferred living in Europe to living in America because there was less racial prejudice there.

Lewis continued making sculptures of Native Americans and African Americans. In 1867 she made "Forever Free". In 1876 she created "the Death of Cleopatra".

Lewis died in 1907 in London, England.

In 2022 the United States Postal Service issued a stamp featuring a portrait of Lewis. It is part of the Black Heritage Stamp series.

Gallery

 References 

 Other websites 

Category:1844 births
Category:1907 deaths
Category:American sculptors
Category:African-American people
Category:Artists from New York (state)