Ed Dwight has been an artist since his youth. He is a graduate engineer, a former USAF Test Pilot and America’s first African American Astronaut Candidate. After a successful career as an Air Force Officer and Pilot, Real Estate and Construction entrepreneur, Ed has dedicated the last 39 years solely to art endeavors, highlighting African American contributions and struggles throughout history.
In 1975, while in the Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) Program at the University of Denver, Ed was commissioned by the Colorado Centennial Commission to create a series of bronzes depicting the contribution of Blacks to the American Frontier West. The series of 50 bronzes was on exhibit for several years throughout the United States, and gained widespread acceptance and critical acclaim. In 1979, while the Western series was on exhibit at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (National Park Service), Ed was commissioned to create a bronze series portraying the history and historical roots of Jazz. The series created, entitled "JAZZ: An American Art Form," consisted of over 70 bronzes characterizing the evolution of Jazz from its African and European roots to the fusions of today. Ed’s first large-scale commissioned work was the abolitionist Frederick Douglass in 1978. This life-sized monument was commissioned by the National Park Service and is on display at the Douglass Museum in Anacostia, Maryland. Since this commission, Ed has completed over 128 large scale commissioned memorials & public art installations throughout the U.S. Ed has also created over 18,000 gallery works and is represented in galleries & museums throughout the U.S. In 2009, Ed was commissioned to create a life size inaugural scene of President Barack Obama. Including the President, the First Lady Michelle, the two Obama girls & Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath of office. The exhibit is on tour throughout the United States. Ed’s most recent memorial, the Texas African American History Memorial was unveiled on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, TX. This historically important memorial was dedicated to the Emancipation of 200,000 slaves on June 19, 1865. It covers a complete history of African American progress from Black explorer Estevan Dorantes, in 1528, to the Astronaut space explorer Dr. Bernard Harris. It also includes African American involvement in the founding of Texas, as a separate country, and then as a State. Ed’s sculptures are rigorously collected by museums, institutions and art collectors throughout the world.
The following is a Summary of the more significant Memorial projects
TEXAS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MEMORIAL - AUSTIN, TX
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR MEMORIAL PROJECTS - DENVER, CO; ALLENTOWN, PA;
HOUSTON, TX, ANNAPOLIS, MD; ATLANTA, GA; SIOUX CITY, IA, ETC.
JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN MEMORIAL (1921 TULSA RACE RIOT) - TULSA, OK
SOUTH CAROLINA BLACK HISTORY MEMORIAL, COLUMBIA, SC
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY – 150TH YEAR MEMORIAL
SOLDIER’S MEMORIAL, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, JEFFERSON CITY, MO
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MEMORIALS - DETROIT, MI & WINDSOR, CAN; BATTLE CREEK, MI; ALLENTOWN, PA
