Sarah Lewis

Sarah Elizabeth Lewis is an esteemed associate professor at Harvard University, specializing in the History of Art and Architecture, as well as African and African-American studies. Her scholarly work delves into the connections between African American and Black Atlantic visual culture, racial justice, and the evolution of representational democracy in the United States, spanning from the nineteenth century to contemporary times.

Lewis completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard before earning an MPhil from Oxford University through the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. She furthered her education with an M.A. from the Courtauld Institute of Art and obtained her Ph.D. from Yale University.

Prior to her role at Harvard, she gained valuable experience in curatorial positions at both the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Tate Modern in London. Additionally, she contributed to the Yale University School of Art as a Critic.

A sought-after speaker, Lewis has presented at prominent events and organizations including TEDGlobal, SXSW, and the Aspen Institute. Her influence extends to her service on President Obama’s Arts Policy Committee and various boards, including Creative Time and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

As an acclaimed author, her book, *The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery* became a bestseller and explores the relationship between creativity and unexpected challenges. Her essays on race and contemporary art have appeared in numerous prestigious publications.

In recognition of her impactful contributions, Lewis received the inaugural Freedom Scholar Award in 2019 and was named an Andrew Carnegie Fellow in 2022. Her forthcoming works include *Caucasian War* and *Vision & Justice*, highlighting her ongoing commitment to examining race and aesthetics in America.