Sculptor Melvin Edwards Dies at 88

Melvin Edwards, an influential American sculptor celebrated for his welded steel creations and the Lynch Fragments series, passed away peacefully at his Baltimore home on March 30, 2026, at the age of 88, as confirmed by Alexander Gray Associates. He was born in Houston, Texas, in 1937 and relocated to Los Angeles in 1955, where he initially studied painting at USC before transitioning to sculpture after mastering welding in 1959. His artistic breakthrough occurred in 1965 with a solo show inspired by jazz. The Lynch Fragments series, which began in 1963, tackled themes of racial violence and the Vietnam War. In 1970, he became the first Black sculptor to hold a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Edwards taught for over three decades and is survived by his wife, Diala Touré, three daughters, and a stepson.