Nancy Elizabeth Prophet
Introduction
I am only obeying a command which is stronger than myself, even in the face of what may seem discouraging conditions, I cannot stop, I must go on. Someday people will realize that this is my medium of expression.
–Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, 1927
Best known for her figurative sculptures carved in wood and stone, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet was born in 1890 to parents of Narragansett and African American heritage. She became RISD’s first documented graduate of color, completing her degree in 1918. In 1922, seeking new opportunities as a young female Afro-Indigenous artist, she relocated to Paris. During her 12 years there, Prophet created and exhibited sculptures, gaining critical recognition but also struggling with poverty. In 1934 she moved to Atlanta to co-found the art program at Spelman College, returning to Rhode Island in 1944 to pursue her own art. She remained here until her death in 1960.
In recent years, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet’s work and personal narrative have been embraced by art historians and artists. Her sculptures are now widely appreciated for their depth of presence, uniquely straddling European classical traditions, modernist influences, and her own experiences as an Afro-Indigenous woman. Her commitment to making her art provides a model of unshakable artistic determination and unwavering personal resistance to racist and sexist expectations. Fiery, elegant, and above all tenacious, she is characterized by a 1929 entry in her diary: “I will not bend an inch.”
Throughout her career, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet sought artistic recognition in the form of a solo exhibition of her work. This presentation realizes that vision, assembling the entirety of her existing sculptures and works on paper and providing photographic documentation of sculptures that are lost or were destroyed.
Curated by Sarah Ganz Blythe, deputy director of exhibitions, education, and programs; Dominic Molon, Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art; and Kajette Solomon, social equity and inclusion specialist; with contributions by Maureen C. O’Brien, curator of painting and sculpture; and Gabrielle Walker, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet Curatorial Assistant.
Acknowledgments
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch is organized by the RISD Museum. RISD is built on what is now called College Hill, part of the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Prophet proudly claimed her Narragansett heritage. The amplification of Native voices and histories is crucial to rectifying the many violent legacies of colonialism, and we gratefully acknowledge the ongoing critical contributions of Indigenous people, like Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, across our state, region, and nation.
Our community has generously shared a wealth of stories, projects, and research reflecting years of commitment to documenting and celebrating Prophet’s work and life. Sylvia Ann Soares and Ray Rickman helped shape a responsive approach to gathering and learning together. Arthur Bert, Catherine Little Bert, Nancy Whipple Grinnell, Christine McIntyre-Hannon, Mack H. Scott III, Lorén M. Spears, and Francine Weiss have provided invaluable insights and nuanced perspectives that informed and focused the exhibition and publication.
We are grateful to exhibition lenders for their tremendous trust and cooperation: Brooklyn Museum; Brown University Library, Special Collections; Howe/Lightbody Family Collection; James P. Adams Library, Special Collections, Rhode Island College; Newport Art Museum; Rhode Island Black Heritage Society; Simone Leigh and Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery; Spelman College Museum of Fine Art; and Whitney Museum of American Art.
Dominic Molon, Interim Chief Curator & Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art, Sarah Ganz Blythe, deputy director of exhibitions, education, and programs, Kajette Solomon, social equity and inclusion specialist
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend An Inch is made possible with funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Research for this exhibition was supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art. RISD Museum is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with the generous partnership of the Rhode Island School of Design, its Board of Trustees, and Museum Governors.
Exhibition images
