the studio

About the studio

Established in 1994, Laurie Gross Studios specializes in custom designs for the worship environment of religious institutions throughout the United States. Additionally, the studio designs custom Judaica that is produced both in the US and in Israel as well as sculptural fiber works by Laurie Gross.

Ten of the Studio’s projects have received international awards from the American Institute of Architects, The Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (now known as Interfaith Design), and Faith & Form in the areas of religious and ceremonial art.

About Laurie

Laurie Gross is a nationally known artist recognized for her extraordinarily inspiring and spiritually based work. She reaches into biblical text and her Jewish tradition to create works embodying universal themes and rich metaphors. Much of the creative inspiration for her work is to be found in liturgical text and midrashic material. Beginning as a weaver engaged in building a body of fiber sculptural work to expanding her studio over the past four decades to collaborate with a team of other creative artists who, together, have been involved in creating some of the finest work that is currently being designed for synagogue worship environments.

This milieu has been the focus of Laurie’s work since the mid-1990s. Her projects have included ark doors and curtains, torah covers, eternal lights, art glass windows, donor and memorial walls, tapestries, and site-specific sculptural pieces. It’s possible to visit Jewish communities in New York, Boston, Minneapolis, Miami, Nashville, Houston, San Antonio, San Diego, Los Angeles and more to experience the studio’s contributions to the contemporary worship environment.

Since 2011, Laurie has been collaborating with her eldest son, Elisha Schaefer. Their most recent project is a departure from the studio’s traditional format, in that it lives in an outdoor environment where the artists designed and delivered a metal shade structure as well as monumental pictorial granite stone murals that adorn a mausoleum section of a Jewish cemetery in Simi Valley, California. The shade structure and murals depict the stories of our ancestors, Abraham and Sarah, expanding our understanding by manifesting them, celebrating them and finding a place of meaning for them in our lives.

In her own words, her artistic and work philosophy can be summarized into seven elements: dream, trust, confidence, patience, inclusion, integration, and completion. In her years as a practicing artist, she has learned to dream big and trust the process of the work. To show confidence, even when she is stepping into new territory. To constantly stretch her reach, by doing new things to achieve her goals and dreams. She has learned to be patient, both with herself in the experience of creating art and getting the job done on large-scale commissions when many players are involved. She has learned to include the ideas of others: to listen to the input from within the creative team and to include this input where appropriate; and to listen to the many voices of her client, which might mean a full committee of lay leaders as well as the full clergy team. And then, to weave together their collective input so that each feels their voice was heard in the resulting project. And finally, she has learned to appreciate the sense of satisfaction one feels at the completion of a major effort that honors the involvement of many to realize a dream worth pursuing.

Laurie’s work has been exhibited at many of the Jewish museums throughout the country. Her work is included in the collections of The Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, Hebrew Union College, New York, The National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, as well as in many synagogues and private collections.

In addition to her fine art, Laurie also has her gift line, Blessings Abound®, which grew out of the studio as hand-painted gifts from the artist herself. An enthusiastic response from the community led to the creation of the full product line you see today. While some of the messages are religious in nature, others are simply words of inspiration. For more information on these pieces, please check out Blessing Abound®’s website: blessingsabound.com.

About Elisha

Elisha Schaefer is Laurie’s eldest son, and grew up in the studio watching his mother create extraordinary works of art. He has been fortunate to work with the studio since 2011, and brings over 12 years of experience in design and fabrication for live performance to the work of creating ritual objects and sacred spaces, with a particular interest in design for the temporary worship environment. He has served as Associate Designer on projects for Stephen S. Wise Temple, Adas Israel Congregation (Faith & Form/IFRAA Award), Temple Solel, Hillside Memorial Park, and most recently for Simi Valley Mount Sinai Memorial Park and Loyola Marymount University. Elisha also works at de Toledo High School in the Los Angeles area, teaching stagecraft and Israeli Dance. He helped to create de Toledo’s Makerspace design/fabrication lab, and serves as Technical Director/Set Designer for their theatre department. He received 2016 and 2018 Jerry Herman Award nominations for scenic design for de Toledo’s productions of Urinetown: The Musical and Young Frankenstein. Urinetown ultimately received the Jerry Herman Award for Best Production. Elisha holds a BA in Theatre from Vassar College, and has designed scenery for professional theaters all over the country. He lives in West Hills, CA with his wife, Anna, and their fluffy St. Bernard, Nana.

Elisha’s early training in the studio

Photo credit: Bill Aron

Awards & Exhibitions

AWARDS

2019 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Seven Days of Creation II

2019 – Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, Women’s Economic Ventures, Arts & Entertainment Category

2014 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Ark Curtain, Adas Israel, Washington DC

2008 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Ark tapestry and Torah Covers, Central Synagogue, New York, New York

2004 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Kriah Sculpture, Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego, California

2002 – Philip and Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize Runner-up, Chicago, Illinois

2001 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Ark Curtain, Temple Emanuel, Newton, Massachusetts

2001 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Ark Doors, Curtain, Torah Cover, and Glass Sculpture, Westchester Reform Temple, Scarsdale, New York

1999 – Faith & Form: Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards – Ceremonial Objects, Agudas Achim, San Antonio, Texas

1996 – American Institute of Architects Religious Art Award – Chapel Ark, Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka, Minnesota

1996 – American Institute of Architects Religious Art Award – Sanctuary Ark, Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka, Minnesota

1995 – American Institute of Architects Religious Art Award – Holocaust Memorial, Temple Emanu El, Houston, Texas

ONE WOMAN EXHIBITIONS / SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2005 – Auburn Seminary, New York City

1997 – Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California

1996 – The Fielding Institute, Santa Barbara, California

1995 – Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

1995 – UJA Federation, New York, New York

1993 – Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California

1992 – The Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1990 – Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, California

1986 – Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

1985 – Pucker- Safrai Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

1984 – Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

1983 – B’nai B’rith Klutznick Museum, Washington, D.C.

1982 – National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1982 – University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California

1982 – Union of American Hebrew Congregations, New York, New York

1981 – Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Berkeley, California

1975 – Davis Art Center, Davis, California

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

September 2019 – June 2020 – Relative Relations, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, New York

2016 – Blessings: A Continual Thread, American Jewish University, Los Angeles, California

2013 – A Stitch In Time, Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

2009 – Seder Plate Show, Jewish Community Museum, San Francisco, California

2005 – Passion/Passover: Artists of Faith Interpret Their Holy Days, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, California

2002 – Phillip and Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize – Mezuzah, Chicago, Illinois*

2000 – Living In The Moment, Hebrew Union College, New York, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio

2000 – Works Of Faith, First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon*

1999 – Beacon Of Light, Finegood Art Gallery, West Hills Jewish Federation, Los Angeles, California

1999 – Making Change, Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1998 – Contemporary Judaica, The Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio

1998 – Journey to Freedom: Exodus and Israel, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington

1996 – Blessings and Beginnings, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California

1995 – Light Impressions, Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1993 – Aishet Hayil (Woman of Valor), Yeshiva University, New York, New York

1993 – Un Ange Passe, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California*

1993 – The Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Capital University, Ohio*

1992 – Fiber Arts in Southern California, Los Angeles, California

1992 – Fabrics of Faith: Contemporary Liturgical Textiles, Washington, D.C.

1988 – California Polytechnic University, Pomona, California

1987 – National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1985 – B’nai B’rith Klutznick Museum, Washington, D.C.

1984 – Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

1984 – Pucker- Safrai Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

1983 – Jewish Community Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1983 – Jewish Federation Council, Los Angeles, California

1982 – Convergence ’82, Seattle, Washington

1975 – Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California*

*Awards Received

DISTINGUISHED COLLECTORS OF THE ARTIST

Brown University Hillel, Providence, Rhode Island

Central Synagogue, New York, New York

Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

Jewish Home for the Aging, Los Angeles, California

Jewish Family and Children’s Services, San Francisco, California

Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles, California

The Temple, Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, Tennessee

Temple Beth Tikvah, Lake Worth, Florida

Temple Emanu El, Houston, Texas

Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles, California

Temple Israel, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Temple Israel, Los Angeles, California

Awards & Exhibitions

AWARDS

2019 – Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, Women’s Economic Ventures, Arts & Entertainment Category

2014 – IFRAA Religious Art Award –Ark Curtain, Adas Israel, Washington DC

2008 – IFRAA Religious Art Award- Ark tapestry and Torah Covers, Central Synagogue, New York, New York

2004 – IFRAA Religious Art Award- Kriah Sculpture, Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego, California

2002 – Phillip and Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize Runner-up, Chicago, Illinois

2001 – IFRAA Religious Art Award- Ark Curtain, Temple Emanuel, Newton, Massachusetts

2001 – IFRAA Religious Art Award- Ark Doors, Curtain, Torah Cover, and Glass Sculpture, Westchester Reform Temple, Scarsdale, New York

1999 – IFRAA Religious Art Award- Ceremonial Objects, Agudas Achim, San Antonio, Texas

1997 – AIA Religious Art Award- Chapel Ark, Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka, Minnesota

1997 – AIA Religious Art Award- Sanctuary Ark, Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka, Minnesota

1996 – AIA Religious Art Award- Holocaust Memorial, Temple Emanu El, Houston, Texas
ONE WOMAN EXHIBITIONS / SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2005 – Auburn Seminary, New York City

1997 – Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California

1995 – Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

1995 – UJA Federation, New York, New York

1993 – Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California

1992 – The Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1990 – Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, California

1986 – Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

1985 – Pucker- Safrai Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

1984 – Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

1983 – B’nai B’rith Klutznick Museum, Washington, D.C.

1982 – National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1982 – University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California

1982 – Union of American Hebrew Congregations, New York, New York

1981 – Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Berkeley, California

1975 – Davis Art Center, Davis, California
GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016 – Blessings: A Continual Thread, American Jewish University, Los Angeles, California

2013 – A Stitch In Time, Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

2009 – Seder Plate Show, Jewish Community Museum, San Francisco, California

2005 – Passion/Passover: Artists of Faith Interpret Their Holy Days, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, California

2002 – Phillip and Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize – Mezuzah, Chicago, Illinois*

2000 – Living In The Moment, Hebrew Union College, New York, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio

2000 – Works Of Faith, First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon*

1999 – Beacon Of Light, Finegood Art Gallery, West Hills Jewish Federation, Los Angeles, California

1999 – Making Change, Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1998 – Contemporary Judaica, The Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio

1998 – Journey to Freedom: Exodus and Israel, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington

1996 – Blessings and Beginnings, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California

1995 – Light Impressions, Jewish Museum, San Francisco, California

1993 – Aishet Hayil (Woman of Valor), Yeshiva University, New York, New York

1993 – Un Ange Passe, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California*

1993 – The Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Capital University, Ohio*

1992 – Fiber Arts in Southern California, Los Angeles, California

1992 – Fabrics of Faith: Contemporary Liturgical Textiles, Washington, D.C.

1988 – California Polytechnic University, Pomona, California

1987 – National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1985 – B’nai B’rith Klutznick Museum, Washington, D.C.

1984 – Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

1984 – Pucker- Safrai Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

1983 – Jewish Community Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1983 – Jewish Federation Council, Los Angeles, California

1982 – Convergence ’82, Seattle, Washington

1975 – Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California*

*Awards Received
DISTINGUISHED COLLECTORS OF THE ARTIST

Brown University Hillel, Providence, Rhode Island

Central Synagogue, New York, New York

Hebrew Union College, New York, New York

Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California

Jewish Home for the Aging, Los Angeles, California

Jewish Family and Children’s Services, San Francisco, California

Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles, California

Temple Beth Tikvah, Lake Worth, Florida

Temple Emanu El, Houston, Texas

Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles, California

Temple Israel, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Temple Israel, Los Angeles, California

contact us

Laurie Gross Studios

info@lauriegrossstudios.com

PHONE 805-967-3187

FAX 805-683-2694

Laurie Gross

laurie@lauriegrossstudios.com

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