Barbara Chase-Riboud

About the Author

Barbara Chase-Riboud is a distinguished American author, sculptor, and poet whose multifaceted career spans literature, visual arts, and activism. Born in Philadelphia in 1939, she studied at Yale University and the American Academy in Rome, where she honed her skills in both writing and sculpture. Chase-Riboud first gained international acclaim for her monumental bronze and fiberglass sculptures that explore themes of African diaspora, femininity, and resilience, exhibited in major museums worldwide. As a novelist, she draws on historical events to illuminate the lives of overlooked Black women, blending meticulous research with lyrical prose. Her seminal work, 'The President's Daughter: A Novel (Rediscovered Classics),' reimagines the life of Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's enslaved mistress, challenging narratives of American history. A trailblazer in the Black Arts Movement, Chase-Riboud continues to inspire through her bold explorations of race, power, and identity.