William Edmondson

« EDMONDSON HAS CHOSEN TO WORK IN LIMESTONE, WHICH HE ATTACKS WITH EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AND DIRECTNESS. THE SPIRIT OF HIS WORK DOES NOT BETRAY THE INSPIRATION HE BELIEVES TO BE HIS ACTIVE GUIDE. »  ALFRED H BARR JR, MOMA

EXHIBITED AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN 1937,WILLIAM EDMONDSON IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT MODERN AFRICAN AMERICAN SCULPTOR OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

THE SON OF EMANCIPATED SLAVES, EDMONDSON GREW UP IN THE RURAL GHETTO OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE. HE ASSUMED THE NAME OF THE OWNER OF THE FARM TO WHICH HIS PARENTS HAD BELONGED AND, WITH LITTLE FORMAL EDUCATION, DRIFTED THROUGH MENIAL LABOUR FOR MUCH OF HIS WORKING LIFE.

IN THE 1930S EDMONDSON JOINED THE UNITED PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE A DIVINE CALLING INSTRUCTED HIM TO COMMENCE A SCULPTURAL PRACTICE. EDMONDSON’S CONVERSION WAS IMMEDIATE. WITHIN WEEKS HE HAD CREATED AN OPEN-AIR STUDIO IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY AND, USING A HAMMER AND RAILROAD SPIKE, BEGAN TO CARVE TOMBSTONES FROM OFF-CUTS OF LOCALLY MINED LIMESTONE.

THE ORGANIC MATERIAL BECAME EDMONDSON’S MEDIUM OF CHOICE. ELEGANTLY TEXTED GRAVE-MARKERS GRADUATED TO POWERFUL FIGURATIVE HUMAN AND ANIMAL FORMS. YET EDMONDSON, BY NOW IN HIS LATE 50S, NEVER CONSIDERED HIS WORKS ART. THEY WERE MIRACLES, CREATED THROUGH HIM, NOT BY HIM, AND HE HUMBLY DISPLAYED THEM IN THE FRONT YARD WHERE HE MADE A LIVING SELLING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

IT WAS ETHNOGRAPHIC NASHVILLE COLLECTOR, SIDNEY HIRSCH, WHO DISCOVERED THE ARTIST AND INTRODUCED HIM TO HARPERS BAZAAR PHOTOGRAPHER, LOUISE DAHL-WOLFE. WHEN CURATOR THOMAS MABRY SAW HER IMPOSING STUDIES OF EDMONDSON IN HIS STUDIO, HE SHOWED THEM TO ALFRED BARR, DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK. THEIR REACTION WAS SWIFT, AFFIRMATIVE AND RADICAL.

EDMONDSON OPENED HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW AT THE MUSEUM OF MDOERN ART IN 1937. CRITICS CELEBRATED HIS MONUMENTAL BIBLICAL AND AFRICAN AMERICAN ICONS AND MODERNIST PORTRAYALS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. HE WAS EXHIBITED AT JEU DE PAUME IN PARIS AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY EDWARD WESTON. 

EDMONDSON’S PRACTICE CONTINUED UNTIL HE RETIRED AT THE AGE OF 75. HE DIED JUST TWO YEARS LATER. HIS EARLY CARVINGS STILL STAND IN THE MOUNT ARARAT CEMETERY IN NASHVILLE. HIS REMAINING WORKS ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AND CAN BE FOUND IN MAJOR MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS WORLDWIDE.