An African American railroad worker and janitor turned sculptor whose work included tombstones, bird baths and other lawn ornaments, animals, biblical characters and various people important to the African American community. This son of former slaves Jane Brown and "Orange" Edmondson was in his 50s when he began to carve figures from rocks. He maintained his work was inspired by God speaking to him, showing him what to carve. In 1937 he was the first African American to have a one-man show in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was his only solo showing. In 1938, his work was included in the museum's exhibit, "Three Centuries of Art in the United States," in Paris.
Award-winning poet Elizabeth Spires celebrates the artist in her book, "I Heard God Talking To Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings," (Macmillan, 2009).
The precise location of Edmondson's grave in Mt. Ararat is unknown, the result of a fire which destroyed the cemetery's records. If a tombstone once marked his grave, it has not been located. Many of the gravestones of this historic cemetery have been damaged, sunk or otherwise disappeared.
Award-winning poet Elizabeth Spires celebrates the artist in her book, "I Heard God Talking To Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings," (Macmillan, 2009).
The precise location of Edmondson's grave in Mt. Ararat is unknown, the result of a fire which destroyed the cemetery's records. If a tombstone once marked his grave, it has not been located. Many of the gravestones of this historic cemetery have been damaged, sunk or otherwise disappeared.
An African American railroad worker and janitor turned sculptor whose work included tombstones, bird baths and other lawn ornaments, animals, biblical characters and various people important to the African American community. This son of former slaves Jane Brown and "Orange" Edmondson was in his 50s when he began to carve figures from rocks. He maintained his work was inspired by God speaking to him, showing him what to carve. In 1937 he was the first African American to have a one-man show in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was his only solo showing. In 1938, his work was included in the museum's exhibit, "Three Centuries of Art in the United States," in Paris.
Award-winning poet Elizabeth Spires celebrates the artist in her book, "I Heard God Talking To Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings," (Macmillan, 2009).
The precise location of Edmondson's grave in Mt. Ararat is unknown, the result of a fire which destroyed the cemetery's records. If a tombstone once marked his grave, it has not been located. Many of the gravestones of this historic cemetery have been damaged, sunk or otherwise disappeared.
Award-winning poet Elizabeth Spires celebrates the artist in her book, "I Heard God Talking To Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings," (Macmillan, 2009).
The precise location of Edmondson's grave in Mt. Ararat is unknown, the result of a fire which destroyed the cemetery's records. If a tombstone once marked his grave, it has not been located. Many of the gravestones of this historic cemetery have been damaged, sunk or otherwise disappeared.
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