Artis Lane, a sculptor, painter and printmaker, was born in the Black village of North Buxton, Ontario, Canada, on May 14, 1927. Before moving to Detroit to study at Cranbrooke Academy, Lane attended art college in Toronto. Lane painted and sculpted many Detroit leaders including Coleman Young, the city's first African-American mayor. 
She has also painted portraits of international leaders and icons including Nelson Mandela, Stevie Wonder (above), Oprah Winfrey and President Obama. In the 1990s, Lane’s work evolved to represent the metaphysical images of generic man and generic woman. She looked to challenge the boundaries of race within our society. 

Lane had the honor of having one of her creations unveiled by First Lady Michelle Obama, a bust of Sojourner Truth that has been installed in Emancipation Hall in the United States Capitol.
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(Photo: Michael Germana / SSI Photo /Landov)