Elegant, fiery, and tenacious, artist Nancy Elizabeth Prophet’s commitment to her craft is embodied by a 1929 diary entry: “I will not bend an inch.”
As an Afro-Indigenous woman artist, Prophet pursued her practice in the face of entrenched racism and sexism. Her unwavering spirit is reflected in our exhibition Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch. Twenty rare works and historical documentation reveal how she navigated an unwelcoming art world.
Keep reading to learn more of her compelling story—or better yet, come see the show in person.
Prophet was born in Rhode Island on March 19, 1890, to a Black mother and a Narragansett father. At 28 years old, she became the first known woman of color to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design. She then spent time in New York before moving to Paris, where she spent 12 years creating and exhibiting sculpture.
Despite earning critical acclaim in this period, the pinnacle of her career, she struggled with poverty and isolation, and several times found herself on the brink of starvation. Yet she remained dedicated to her work.
Later she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and cofounded Spelman College’s art program. She eventually returned to Rhode Island, where she remained until her death at the age of 70.
Throughout her career, Prophet sought the artistic recognition of a solo exhibition.
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch realizes that vision, bringing together the entirety of her known carvings and works on paper as well as photographic documentation of sculptures that have been lost or destroyed. Prophet’s body of existing work illustrates her dedication to creating powerful and refined beauty.
For the family
Stroller Tours: Trailblazing Women Artists
Wednesdays, May 7 and 21, 10–11:15 am
Art lovers come in all ages!
We offer stroller-friendly tours designed for children up to 24 months old. The May editions explore two exhibitions centered on trailblazing women artists: Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch and Consuelo Kanaga: Catch the Spirit.
From the top: Nancy Elizabeth Prophet in Paris, 1924. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet Collection, MSS-0028, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College; Nancy Elizabeth Prophet sculpting, n.d. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Harmon Foundation Collection, 559226; Nancy Elizabeth Prophet. Silence, 1926. Marble. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Gift of Miss Ellen D. Sharpe (30.092). (Photo: Erik Gould); Nancy Elizabeth Prophet. Head of a Negro (also referred to as Head in Wood), ca. 1924. Maple wood. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Gift of Miss Eleanor B. Green (35.780). (Photo: Erik Gould); Installation view, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch. Brooklyn Museum, March 14–July 13, 2025. (Photo: Paula Abreu Pita); Stroller Tour, May 2022. (Photo: Danny Perez)
