Tinworks Art Opens Second Act of Edmonia and Samuel Lewis Exhibition in Bozeman

The second segment of "Chisel & Razor: The Artistic Legacies of Edmonia and Samuel Lewis" is set to debut on October 11 at Tinworks Art, a nonprofit gallery located in Bozeman, Montana, and will be on display until April 2027. Curated by Melissa Ragain, this exhibition intentionally omits Edmonia Lewis's own creations, instead featuring contemporary artists who explore the life and impact of the renowned Black and Indigenous sculptor. The initial act highlighted her brother Samuel, a businessman and performer from Bozeman who supported her. The upcoming act shifts focus to Edmonia and is presented alongside an exhibition of her original pieces at the Museum of the Rockies. Act I included artists such as Edgar Arcenaux and Sonya Clark, while the new segment introduces Sanford Biggers and Auriea Harvey, who presents "Edmonia Triumphalis" (2026), a speculative piece that imagines Edmonia visiting Samuel in Bozeman. Ragain noted to Hyperallergic that despite Edmonia's significance, she has often been overlooked, although many artists have examined her work since the 1860s.