Edmonia Lewis

Mary Edmonia Lewis, the first professional sculptor of African and native American descent to recognized internationally. She was born in New York in 1844. She died on September 17, 1907 London, England. Her sculptures were Neoclassical and religious which she brought back the interest in the late 20th century.

During her early life, Lewis' father was a free African-American and her mother a Chippewa Indian, who was orphaned Lewis at an early age around five. Later on, she was raised by relatives of her mother's tribe until she was twelve years old, who called by her native name, Wildfire. Lewis's older brother, Sunrise, left the Chippewas tribe and moved to California where he became a successful gold miner. With the help of her older brother, Lewis was able to attend to Oberlin College in Ohio in 1859, where she able to become a talented artist. Unfortunately, Lewis had to leave Oberlin in 1863 because she was falsely accused of poisoning 2 white students and theft. Also she wasn't able to graduate because of the charges. After that, she was beaten by a white mob and escaped to Boston, Massachusetts.

In Boston, Lewis met sculptor Edward Brackett and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Brackett helped Lewis to become a better sculptor and inspired her to create her own studio. In 1864, Lewis created a piece based on Colonel Robert Shaw, a Civil War Hero who died leading black troops in the attack on Fort Wagner, and it was widely praised. With the money Lewis made from her art, she was able to have enough money to go to Rome.

In Italy, Lewis became even more popular