In 1860, she established a studio in Watertown. Two years later, she rented a studio in Boston near William Rimmer, an artist and physician, with whom she studied. He critiqued her works as she began making full-length sculptures. She made a life-size sculpture of Lady Godiva and, during the Civil War, a large sculpture entitled "Africa". Both had were expressions of her political viewpoints. "Africa" represented an entire race breaking free of slavery and "Lady Godiva" represented a heroine relieving the poor of exorbitant taxes. They were shown in 1864 and 1865 in Boston and New York. "Lady Godiva", which was positively received at its exhibits, resides at the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas. In 1867, she exhibited work in the Boston gallery of De Vries, Ibarra & Co.