Listed In: Sculptors
Birthdate: July 4, 1844
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Died: September 17, 1907
Mary Edmonia Lewis, also known as “Wildfire,” was a groundbreaking American sculptor of African-American and Native American descent. Based in Rome, Italy, she made history as the first African-American and Native American sculptor to gain widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally. Lewis rose to prominence during the Civil War and stood out as the only Black female artist recognized by the American artistic establishment in the late 19th century. Her sculptures, characterized by a Neoclassical style, frequently explored themes related to the experiences of Black and indigenous communities in the Americas.
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