Church Lady

William Edmondson carved Church Lady with an abbreviated touch, barely giving form to the woman’s facial features and outfit as she holds a Bible in one hand and her purse in the other. This sculpture is one of several that Edmondson carved representating people from his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by a divine calling, he first produced tombstones for members of his community and later turned to freestanding sculptures like Church Lady that reflected its social structures and values. By the time he had completed this work, Edmondson was on his way to broader acclaim, and in 1937 was the first Black artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.