Maker/Artist
Lewis, Edmonia
American sculptor, 1844-1907
Lewis was the first African-American sculptor and woman to receive international recognition. Her mother was a Chippewa Indian and her father a freeman of African descent. She studied liberal arts at Oberlin college before she moved to Boston. There she apprenticed with the sculptor Edward Brackett until she opened a studio of her own. She moved to Rome in 1865 for nine years and returned to the United States to critical acclaim. On tombstone and associated information (St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London Borough of Brent, Greater London, England) life dates are 1844-1907 (born 4 Jul 1844 in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York, United States of America, died 17 Sep 1907 in London, City of London, Greater London, England).
