Neo-classical Sculptor Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia Lewis was the first African-American to be widely recognized as a sculptor. She was born circa 1845 to an African-American father and a Native American mother. Although Lewis studied drawing at Oberlin College, sculpture captured her imagination and brought her fame and enough fortune to move to Rome. She became known for neo-classical work, including the Death of Cleopatra which she exhibited at Philadelphia's Centennial Expostion in 1876.