Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907) was an American sculptor. As a young adult, Lewis moved from Oberlin, Ohio to Boston, Massachusetts to become a sculptor. Her early patrons were abolitionists, interested in supporting a young Black budding talent. One of her more well-known sculptures, Forever Free (1867) is a unique example of an abolition celebration because it depicts the Black man standing, not kneeling, as was a common motif during the time. Lewis eventually moved to Rome in 1866, where she lived the rest of her life. She found the Italian more accommodating to her as an artist.