Sculptor Edmonia Lewis Receives Long-Overdue Renaissance

A 19th-century artist of Black and Indigenous ancestry, once acclaimed then forgotten, is now the subject of renewed scholarly and artistic interest.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Edmonia Lewis, a 19th-century sculptor of Black and Indigenous ancestry, achieved international fame for her neoclassical marble sculptures but was later forgotten. Now, a groundswell of scholars, artists, and museums are working to excavate her story and keep her legacy alive through new exhibitions, books, and artistic projects that explore her life and influence.

Why it matters

Lewis's story highlights the challenges faced by marginalized artists, especially women of color, in the 19th century who struggled to gain recognition and whose contributions were often overlooked or forgotten over time. The renewed interest in Lewis's life and work sheds light on an important figure in American art history and the ongoing efforts to recover the stories of underrepresented artists.

The details

Born around 1844 near Albany, New York, Lewis achieved fame in the late 1800s for her sculptures depicting emancipated African Americans, abolitionist leaders, Native American characters, and powerful historical women like Cleopatra. She exhibited her work internationally and self-promoted her "unconquerable energy" and "genius." However, by the time of her death in 1907, her fortunes had waned and she was buried in a pauper's grave in London. Over the decades, Lewis's story has been repeatedly excavated and rediscovered by scholars and artists seeking to illuminate her life and influence. A major retrospective exhibition, "Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone," is now opening at the Peabody Essex Museum, bringing together 30 of her sculptures along with works by her contemporaries and tracing her impact on later artists.

  • Lewis was born around 1844 in Greenbush, New York.
  • In 1864, Lewis received encouragement from abolitionist Frederick Douglass and studied classical motifs at Oberlin College.
  • In 1866, Lewis moved to Rome, where she worked out of a studio until her death in 1907.
  • In 1873, Lewis exhibited five of her sculptures in San Francisco at the invitation of the mayor.
  • In 1876, Lewis sent her sculpture "Forever Free" from Rome to Boston "collect," without a buyer.

The players

Edmonia Lewis

A 19th-century sculptor of Black and Indigenous ancestry who achieved international fame for her neoclassical marble sculptures but was later forgotten, until a recent resurgence of scholarly and artistic interest in her life and work.

Frederick Douglass

An abolitionist leader who encouraged Lewis and provided her with support early in her artistic career.

Samuel Lewis

Edmonia Lewis's half-brother, who helped fund her artistic education and move to Rome, and was an entrepreneur in Bozeman, Montana.

Bonnie Devine

An artist in Toronto and member of the Serpent River First Nation in Ontario, who participated in a convening at the Peabody Essex Museum to shed light on Lewis's Indigenous identity.

Jennifer DeVere Brody

A Stanford University professor who organized an exhibition on Lewis and is writing a book about her, exploring her story through Black, feminist, and queer lenses.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like Edmonia Lewis found me and kept leading me to illuminate her story.”

— Jennifer DeVere Brody, Stanford University professor (New York Times)

“She must have been quite memorable as a personality.”

— Shawnya Harris, Curator of African American and African diasporic art at the Georgia Museum of Art (New York Times)

What’s next

The Peabody Essex Museum's retrospective exhibition "Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone" will travel to the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens in August 2026.

The takeaway

Edmonia Lewis's story exemplifies the challenges faced by marginalized artists, especially women of color, in the 19th century, and the ongoing efforts to recover the histories and contributions of underrepresented figures in American art. The renewed scholarly and artistic interest in her life and work is helping to cement her legacy as an important and influential sculptor.