(20th century) Elsa Henke Mandell studied sculpture for four years with Paul Fjelde, a professor of applied arts at the Pratt Institute in New York. After having moved with her husband to Minneapolis, she served for eight years as treasurer of the Minnesota Sculpture Group. Working both in wood and stone, she won a first prize in the Minneapolis Women's Club Annual Art Show for a wood head of an African American, offered on SavvyCollector.com and pictured in a newspaper clipping along with Dr. and Mrs. Mandell's photographs. A plaster bust by Mandell titled Negro Head measuring 10" in height; was exhibited at the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis) in 1944. A Mandell sculpture titled Lacrima was listed as having been included in the 20th Spring Salon of the Minneapolis Woman's Club in April 1950.
This talented woman's work somehow escaped the radar of the major art critics who could have launched her reputation years ago. Her prize for winning the First Award in the 1945 Art Salon was $15.00.