Ed Dwight’s Art and Life Take Center Stage in New History Colorado Exhibition
For nearly five decades, Ed Dwight has worked from a Denver studio creating sculptures that preserve stories often left out of traditional accounts of American history. A new exhibition at History Colorado Center examines the renowned sculptor’s artwork and the remarkable life behind it.
“Ed Dwight: Casting a Legacy” explores the Dwight’s career as a sculptor, historian, pilot, engineer and former astronaut candidate, bringing together more than a dozen works that reflect his decades-long commitment to documenting African American history through bronze.
On display through Feb. 28, 2027, the “Ed Dwight: Casting a Legacy” exhibition arrives as Colorado commemorates 150 years of statehood, offering visitors an opportunity to examine the contributions of Black Coloradans alongside the career of one of the state’s most influential artists.
“Denver has been my home for more than sixty years and has given me the space and inspiration to pursue my dreams as an artist. The city provided me with my start during my transition from the NASA Space Program and U.S. Air Force, while giving me some of the greatest opportunities to bring the untold and inspirational stories of African American history to the public,” Dwight says.
“I am truly honored by the ‘Ed Dwight: Casting a Legacy’ exhibit by History Colorado, and my deepest hope is that visitors will see something that encourages them to pursue their own dreams and create their own lasting impact.”
A Career Dedicated to Preserving History
Dwight established his Denver studio in 1977, where he developed a body of work exploring Black history in the American West, the Civil Rights Movement, jazz and influential historical figures. His sculptures combine extensive historical research with technical craftsmanship, seeking to give physical form to stories that have frequently been overlooked. His work is featured in locations throughout the Denver Metro area, including at Denver International Airport’s Center for Equity and Excellence in Aviation.
One of the exhibition’s earliest works comes from “Black Frontier Spirit in the American West,” a series Dwight began while earning his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Denver during the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. The collection highlights Black explorers, cowboys, soldiers, laborers and homesteaders whose contributions have often been excluded from mainstream narratives of the American West.
Reclaiming the Story of the American West
According to Acoma Burns, History Colorado’s curator of Black history, the series reshaped how many people understand Western history.
“Through his own pursuit of knowledge, Ed Dwight came to understand that Black people were not absent from the history of the American West. They had been omitted from the way that history was traditionally taught,” Burns says. “His sculptures allow Black Americans to see themselves as part of the Western story and affirm that Black history is not a footnote. It is foundational to our understanding of the West.”
That commitment to historical storytelling emerged from Dwight’s own experience. Growing up during the 1940s and 1950s, including attending previously all-white schools, he says he received little formal education about African American history. While learning sculpture in the 1970s, conversations with then-Lt. Gov. George Brown introduced him to historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, inspiring a lifelong effort to preserve those stories through art.
From Family Stories to Cultural Icons
Among the featured works is “Dirt Farmers,” a sculpture honoring Dwight’s grandparents, Lobe and Sara Dwight, and the resilience of Black sharecroppers in the post-emancipation South. Other galleries showcase pieces from his “Jazz” series, portraying musicians including Charlie Parker, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis, as well as bronze busts of Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass.
The exhibition also connects Dwight’s artistic achievements with a career that extended well beyond the studio.
Before becoming a full-time sculptor, he served as an Air Force pilot and engineer and became the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate during the early years of the U.S. space program. In 2024, at age 90, he fulfilled a decades-long ambition by traveling to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, becoming the oldest person to fly to space.
His artistic legacy is equally expansive. Dwight has created more than 130 monuments and memorials across the country, including Denver’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in City Park.
An Enduring Legacy
“Ed Dwight’s story is unlike any other,” says Dr. Gwendolyn Lockman, History Colorado’s senior historian and the exhibition’s lead developer. “Not only has he made history as the first Black astronaut candidate, but he is also a historian in his own right, ensuring people everywhere learn African American history through his memorials and art. I hope seeing his artwork changes how people perceive the past and the possibilities for the future.”
Rather than presenting Dwight’s accomplishments as separate chapters, “Ed Dwight: Casting a Legacy” reveals the connections between his careers in aviation, engineering and sculpture. Together, they reflect a lifelong commitment to preserving overlooked history and expanding the stories Americans tell about themselves.
About History Colorado
History Colorado connects people to Colorado’s past through 11 museums and historic sites, statewide preservation programs, research collections and community-driven public history initiatives. As both a state agency and nonprofit organization, it stewards more than 15 million artifacts, photographs and archival resources while serving learners of all ages through exhibitions, educational programs and public engagement. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado.
Editor’s note: Ed Dwight: Casting a Legacy is on display through Feb 28, 2027. The exhibition is included with General Admission tickets, available for purchase at www.historycolorado.org