Erna Weill (1904-1996) was an American German-Jewish sculptor known for her busts of 20th-century persons, in particular civil rights figures. Born Erna Helft in

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, she studied sculpture with Helene von Beckerath, a student of

Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (; ; 12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a u ...

, at

Goethe University Frankfurt Goethe University Frankfurt () is a public research university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt ...

.Michael Aldinger, ''Guide to the Papers of Erna Weill (1904-1966), 1914-1971'' New York: Leo Baeck Institute/Center of Jewish History, 2007.
/ref> In 1933, a course with Martin Buber in Frankfurt inspired her to pursue Jewish themes in her work. She married a chemist, Ernst Weill. In 1936, the family fled Germany first to Switzerland and then to the United States, settling eventually in

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...

. She continued her work of busts of famous people, many from the Civil Rights Movement and of Jewish themes. In addition she taught in New York City public schools and had her own art school.

References

External links

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Erna Weill papers
at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art German-Jewish culture in the United States Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States 1904 births 1996 deaths Artists from Teaneck, New Jersey Artists from Frankfurt 20th-century American sculptors 20th-century American women sculptors {{German-speaking-jews-stub