Blue Plaque for Sculptor Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia Lewis, a pioneering black female 19th Century American artist, was the first woman artist of African and Native American heritage to be recognized for her work.

Mary Edmonia Lewis, also known as "Wildfire", was born free on July 4th 1844 in Albany, New York to an African American father and a Chippewa Indian mother.

The African American female sculptor lost both parents at a young age and was brought up by her mother's family, where she was given her Indian name, Wildfire. She also received a college education due largely to the fact that her brother, who was called Sunrise, was a professional gold-miner so her was able to pay her college fees.

The next three decades Edmonia would spend traveling between the US, Rome and Paris. In 1901, after spending five years in Paris, she moved to London, eventually settling down at in Hammersmith, London, where she would remain for the rest of her life.

To celebrate the 115th anniversary of Edmonia Lewis's time in the UK, a blue heritage plaque will be installed on her former home in Hammersmith by the Nubian Jak Community Trust.

Date: Monday 22nd August
Time: 3pm
Address: 156 Blythe Road, Hammersmith, London, W14 0HD

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