William Edmondson

Name: William Edmondson
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SKU: 9780300269840
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A Monumental Vision

Summary

William Edmondson re-examines the legacy of the self-taught American sculptor who began carving during the Great Depression in Tennessee. Initially creating functional tombstones, Edmondson expanded to biblical figures, natural motifs, and notable community members. This richly illustrated volume includes essays that explore his Southern roots and the reception of his work in 1930s East Coast art circles.

The book highlights Edmondson’s identity as a Black artist and the complex intersections between African American cultural production and mainstream museum narratives. It challenges earlier views of Edmondson as a passive figure "discovered" by White patrons, emphasising his agency and influence on art history.

Distributed for the Barnes Foundation, it ties in with a 2023 exhibition in Philadelphia.
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Format: Hardback

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William Edmondson

$95⁹⁹

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This title suits readers interested in art history, African American cultural studies, and self-taught artists. It appeals to those seeking deeper understanding of underrepresented figures in American art and museum dynamics.

A reassessment of self-taught artist William Edmondson, exploring the enduring relevance of his work

Description

A reassessment of self-taught artist William Edmondson, exploring the enduring relevance of his work

This richly illustrated volume reintroduces readers to American sculptor William Edmondson (1874–1951), more than 80 years after his historic solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Edmondson began carving at the onset of the Depression in Tennessee. Initially creating tombstones for his community, over time he expanded his practice to include biblical subjects, the natural world, and recognizable figures, including nurses and preachers.

This book features new essays that explore Edmondson’s life in the South and his reception on the East Coast in the 1930s. Reading the artist through lenses of African American experience, the authors draw parallels between then and now, highlighting the complex relationship between Black cultural production and the American museum.

Countering existing narratives that have viewed Edmondson as a passive actor in an unfolding drama—a self-taught sculptor “discovered” by White patrons and institutions—this book considers how the artist’s identity and position within history influenced his life and work.

Distributed for the Barnes Foundation

Exhibition Schedule:

The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
(June 25–September 10, 2023)

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300269840

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 27 June 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 100 color illus.

Contributors:

Contributions by Kelli Morgan
Edited by Nancy Ireson
Edited by James Claiborne
Contributions by Brendan Fernandes
Contributions by Leslie King Hammond
Contributions by Christina Knight

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 292.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 152

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction

About the Author

James Claiborne is curator of public programs and Nancy Ireson is deputy director for collections and exhibitions and Gund Family Chief Curator, both at the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia.