Mel Edwards and Juan Sánchez: A Friendship Forged in Steel and Support

The article reflects on the relationship between sculptor Mel Edwards (1937–2026) and painter Juan Sánchez (b. 1954), highlighting their mutual support and artistic kinship. Edwards, known for his welded steel Lynch Fragments and public works weaving African American history and abstraction, died in March at 88. Sánchez, a Nuyorican artist exploring Puerto Rican identity and liberation, met Edwards at Rutgers University in the late 1970s. Though Sánchez never studied under Edwards, he sought his wisdom and lightheartedness. Edwards advised Sánchez to create his own situation in the art world, saying, "You create your own situation." Their friendship included collaborations: Edwards invited Sánchez to the 1981 New Museum exhibition "Events: Artists Invite Artists," and Sánchez included Edwards in the 1988 group show "Affinities" at Jamaica Art Center. Edwards stood by Sánchez at his wedding to Alma Villegas, and they were together when Ana Mendieta failed to appear for lunch in 1985, later learning of her death. A Lynch Fragment sculpture by Edwards has hung in Sánchez's studio for decades, symbolizing their bond. The article, written by Carolina A. Miranda, draws on visits to Sánchez's Brooklyn studio beginning in 2013 for a monograph.