Lewis, Edmonia

(c. July 4, 1844 – September 17, 1907), Mary Edmonia Lewis, "Wildfire" was an American sculptor, of mixed African-American and Native American (Ojibwe) heritage. Born in New York, she worked for most of her career in Rome, Italy. She was the first African-American sculptor to achieve national and then international prominence. She began to gain prominence in the United States during the Civil War; at the end of the 19th century, she remained the only Black woman artist who had participated in and been recognized to any extent by the American artistic mainstream. Lewis was commissioned by [[Hunt, Harriot|Harriot Hunt]] to create the sculpture Hygeia for her [[Lot 2630]] on [[Poplar Avenue]] at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

(c. July 4, 1844 – September 17, 1907), Mary Edmonia Lewis, "Wildfire" was an American sculptor, of mixed African-American and Native American (Ojibwe) heritage. Born in New York, she worked for most of her career in Rome, Italy. She was the first African-American sculptor to achieve national and then international prominence. She began to gain prominence in the United States during the Civil War; at the end of the 19th century, she remained the only Black woman artist who had participated in and been recognized to any extent by the American artistic mainstream. Lewis was commissioned by [[Hunt, Harriot|Harriot Hunt]] to create the sculpture Hygeia for her family’s [[Lot 2630]] on [[Poplar Avenue]] at Mount Auburn Cemetery.