Edmonia Lewis

Born in upstate New York, Mary Edmonia Lewis was of Ojibwe (Chippewa) and African American descent. Orphaned young, she eventually attended Oberlin College, one of the first in the U.S. to admit women and people of color. Her tenure was, shall we say, eventful, including accusations of poisoning and theft, but she persevered, eventually moving to Boston to pursue her artistic dreams.

Despite the rampant racism and sexism of her era, Lewis found success, particularly in Rome, where she became part of an expatriate community of sculptors. She was known for her Neoclassical style, often depicting figures and scenes from abolitionist themes, Native American legends, and classical mythology. Her work was celebrated for its emotional depth and refusal to conform to stereotypes.

While definitively not Jewish, Lewis's resilience in the face of adversity and her trailblazing career as one of the first internationally recognized female sculptors of color certainly earns her some universal nachas. Her ability to sculpt magnificent marble figures with little formal training is quite the feat, making her a true artistic pioneer.

Her most famous work, "The Death of Cleopatra," exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, solidified her legacy. After decades in Rome, her later life is shrouded in a bit of mystery, but her impact on American art and her powerful representation of marginalized communities remain undeniable.