Bio: Laura Lopez

Laura Lopez is an artist who began working in the glass medium in 1977. Over the course of the next few years she completed a number of stained glass commissions for residential clients. In 1983 Laura founded Glass Fantasies Stained Glass Studio in Old Towne Gaithersburg, Maryland that was one of the first full-service studios offering design and construction of commissions for commercial, liturgical and residential clients. Laura saw the popularity of glass and in 1985 launched her Art Glass Gallery adjacent to her studio.

She was instrumental in acquiring some of the premier glass and blown-glass artists of the time. The Gallery displayed the works of over 50 artists resulting in her selection as a representative of the prestigious line of Caithiness Glass Paperweights from the United Kingdom.

Laura has completed numerous commissions throughout the United States and one of her windows is located in New Zealand. She has had her work displayed several times at the Smithsonian Museum in the Renwick Gallery, part of the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC. One of her many noteworthy commissions is the "Tree of Life" that she donated to the Loudoun Virginia Hospital Center Birthing Wing.

She moved to Northern Virginia in the rural countryside of Paeonian Springs, Virginia and established Lopez Art Glass. She built a modern studio to accommodate, stained glass, fused glass and blown glass. Because of her long standing career in glass, Laura was able to bring some of the best artists to teach at her "Visiting Artist's Program".

Laura and her husband Jerry continue to work in glass and she has successfully launched a beautiful line of custom glass cuff bracelets. After relocating to Huntsville, Alabama they were juried into Lowe Mill Art's and Entertainment Center. Laura and Jerry offer their clients over 39 years of experience in designing and fabricating commissions for Stained and Fused Glass work's. Additionally they pass on their expertise in offering classes from beginner through advanced levels in both stained and fused glass.

Professional Art Training:
Fusing, Pate de Verre: Boyce Lundstrom - Colton, OR
Design: Narcissus Quagliata - Oakland, CA/Gaithersburg, MD
Gold Leaf: Val Hadshinow - New York, NY
Glass Workshops and Seminars: International Glass Craft Exposition - Baltimore, MD/Atlanta, GA
Glass Blowing: Eric Kvarnes - Sperryville, VA

Exhibitions:
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution: Washington, DC
Creative Craft Council, Inc. 21st Biennial (Award Winner): Rockville, MD
Franklin Square Exhibition: Washington, DC
Made in America: New York, NY
Creative Partners at Art's Alive Gallery: Bethesda, MD
GTE Government Systems Corporate Sponsored Exhibit: Chantilly, VA
Creative Craft Council, Inc. 20st Biennial (Award Winner): Rockville, MD
National Capital Stained Glass Guild, Artisans Gallery: Annandale, VA
Creative Craft Council, Inc. 19st Biennial: Rockville, MD
Ad Arts Festival, Smithsonian Institute: Washington, DC