Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch

Nancy Elizabeth Prophet (1890–1960) was the first known woman of color to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design. This book explores her career and legacy, featuring original essays, catalogue entries, and an illustrated chronology. It examines her transatlantic career, stylistic connections, Afro-Indigenous heritage, and how she resisted predetermined conceptions of her cultural identity. Contemporary artist Simone Leigh assesses her shared practice with Prophet, who offers a model of fearless devotion to her work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

Nancy Elizabeth Prophet (1890-1960) was an artist of African American and Narragansett ancestry who made a significant impact on the art world. She was the first known woman of color to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied portraiture. However, Prophet's work went beyond portraiture, focusing on conveying atmosphere and emotion through her sculptures.

This book explores the career and legacy of Prophet, providing a nuanced and comprehensive presentation of her life and work. Through original essays, catalogue entries on Prophet's major works, and an illustrated chronology of her remarkable life, the book reframes Prophet's powerful work and legacy. Contributors trace the artist's transatlantic career, from Parisian ateliers to Spelman College, and consider topics such as the art institutions Prophet navigated, the stylistic connections between her figurative sculpture and the work of her modernist contemporaries, her Afro-Indigenous heritage, and how she resisted predetermined conceptions of her cultural identity.

One of the key themes of the book is Prophet's unwavering devotion to her work. Contemporary artist Simone Leigh assesses her shared practice with Prophet, who offers a model of fearless devotion to her art. Leigh discusses how Prophet's work continues to inspire her, and how she incorporates aspects of Prophet's style and approach into her own work.

The book is published in association with the RISD Museum, where an exhibition of Prophet's work will be held in 2024. The exhibition will then travel to the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in 2025, allowing a wider audience to appreciate Prophet's remarkable talent and legacy.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable insight into the life and work of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, an artist who defied societal expectations and pushed the boundaries of artistic expression. Through original essays, catalogue entries, and an illustrated chronology, the book reframes Prophet's powerful work and legacy, demonstrating how she continues to inspire a new generation of artists and viewers today.

Dimension: 279 x 229 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300261042