A Pioneer of the American West: Mary E. Powell’s Landscapes of Resilience Mary E. Powell, a name perhaps less familiar than some of her contemporaries in the late 19th and early 20th century American art scene, nevertheless stands as a remarkable figure – an African-American artist who carved out a significant space for herself amidst considerable societal challenges. Born in 1854 in Methwold, Norfolk, England, Powell’s journey to becoming a celebrated painter of the Midwest landscape was one marked by both personal hardship and unwavering artistic dedication. Her early life, shaped by the l…