Gallery: Augusta Savage

Augusta Savage (1892-1962)

Hometown: United States

Accomplishments: Acclaimed African American sculptor, activist, short story writer, painter and arts educator who was a central force in the Harlem Renaissance. She fought for equal rights for African American artists and created another legacy as an art teacher. Stylistically, Savage's work was characterized by sculpting African Americans subjects with realism, challenging the stereotypical depictions of that era.

Augusta Savage moved to New York City in the early 1920s to study at Cooper Union's School of Art. In 1924, Savage sculpted a plaster bust of her nephew, which many consider to be her greatest masterpiece. This artwork, "Gamin" ("street urchin" in French), earned her a Julius Rosenwald Fellowship, which included a trip to Paris. In 1932, she established the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts, an arts-education center for adults. She later became the first director of Harlem's Community Arts Center.

The Harp Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as The Harp, was a plaster sculpture by Augusta Savage. It was commissioned for the 1939 New York World's Fair. A reproduction is featured below.

How did Augusta Savage overcome barriers as a woman in the arts and as an African American?