Nancy Elizabeth Prophet
Encyclopedia
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, born March 19, 1890, to William H. Prophet and Rose Walker Prophet, in Warwick, Rhode Island, matured into a sculptural artist during the Harlem Renaissance
.
In 1918, at the age of 24, Prophet, a high school graduate, enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design
in Providence, Rhode Island. While attending RISD, she married Francis Ford, whom she later divorced. Prophet began her studies in art, focusing on painting and drawing, especially portraiture.
She immediately began advertising her name in exhibits in Newport and New York. Prophet was not allowed to appear alongside her work due to the color of her skin—being of both African American and Narragansett
Indian descent, gallery owners found her appearance “socially unacceptable”. Taking a stand to this racial discrimination, Prophet refused to succumb to the times and denied galleries her artwork where she was not accepted.
Leaving behind the racial turmoil she faced in the United States, Prophet moved to Paris in 1922 to further study her newfound passion and claim the credit her work rightfully deserved. Prophet found her calling in marble sculptures of life-size faces that vividly portrayed various moods.
Returning to the United States in 1932, Prophet realized her work began gaining attention, proving that beyond her skin color was a true artist. She was invited to exhibit her art in galleries located in New York and Rhode Island.
Prophet moved her studies down to Atlanta, Georgia, and began a career as a professor teaching art students enrolled at both Atlanta University and Spelman College
, in hopes of encouraging the creative minds of youth, the encouragement she was not presented with during her early years.
In 1945, Prophet returned to Rhode Island to escape the rejection she had once again faced in the south and attempted to regain her status as an artist. Due to lack of networking and contacts, her attempt proved dismal and Prophet was forced into domestic work. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet died in 1960.
1931-32: Salon d’Automne
1930’s: Harmon Foundation and Whitney Sculpture Biennial [America]
1945: Providence Public Library
1978: “Four from Providence”, Bannister Gallery of Rhode Island College
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
.
In 1918, at the age of 24, Prophet, a high school graduate, enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
in Providence, Rhode Island. While attending RISD, she married Francis Ford, whom she later divorced. Prophet began her studies in art, focusing on painting and drawing, especially portraiture.
She immediately began advertising her name in exhibits in Newport and New York. Prophet was not allowed to appear alongside her work due to the color of her skin—being of both African American and Narragansett
Narragansett
Narragansett may refer to:*Narragansett , a Pennsylvania Railroad train*Narragansett , an Amtrak train*Narragansett **Narragansett land claim*Narragansett, Rhode Island, a town*Narragansett Bay*Narragansett...
Indian descent, gallery owners found her appearance “socially unacceptable”. Taking a stand to this racial discrimination, Prophet refused to succumb to the times and denied galleries her artwork where she was not accepted.
Leaving behind the racial turmoil she faced in the United States, Prophet moved to Paris in 1922 to further study her newfound passion and claim the credit her work rightfully deserved. Prophet found her calling in marble sculptures of life-size faces that vividly portrayed various moods.
Returning to the United States in 1932, Prophet realized her work began gaining attention, proving that beyond her skin color was a true artist. She was invited to exhibit her art in galleries located in New York and Rhode Island.
Prophet moved her studies down to Atlanta, Georgia, and began a career as a professor teaching art students enrolled at both Atlanta University and Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
, in hopes of encouraging the creative minds of youth, the encouragement she was not presented with during her early years.
In 1945, Prophet returned to Rhode Island to escape the rejection she had once again faced in the south and attempted to regain her status as an artist. Due to lack of networking and contacts, her attempt proved dismal and Prophet was forced into domestic work. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet died in 1960.
Exhibitions
1924-27: Paris August Salons1931-32: Salon d’Automne
1930’s: Harmon Foundation and Whitney Sculpture Biennial [America]
1945: Providence Public Library
1978: “Four from Providence”, Bannister Gallery of Rhode Island College