Maryland sculptor Lawrence Schneider has a talent for conceiving simple sculptural forms to convey inspiring messages that resonate in our stressful contemporary culture. His works are beautiful, uplifting and thoughtful. "My greatest joy," reflected Mr. Schneider "is to see viewers receive insight and pleasure from my work." He is inspired by both contemporary and universal themes, and his sculptures communicate ideas that are timely and timeless.
He has practiced transcendental meditation daily for more than half his adult life. This provides him with a way to free his right-brain creativity, resulting in a steady stream of creative inspiration. His life experiences provide him with the themes that make his sculptures one-of-a-kind treasures.
Mr. Schneider's sculptures are created in either fine hardwoods or in bronze.The wood sculptures are made by direct carving of figured hardwood blocks and the cast bronze works by using the lost wax process.He perfected his skill and technique of direct carving after 34 years as a wood carver before elevating that skill to a new level in 2004 as a full-time sculptor. He is now able to produce aesthetic objects of superior quality and creativity. For over 50 years, creative design was a vital part of Mr. Schneider's professional life as an aeronautical engineer, systems designer and, now, as an artist. In addition to creating sculptures, Mr. Schneider has been frequently invited to speak to art and community groups about how he found his bliss as an artist after two successful professional careers.
His sculptures are owned by collectors in the USA and Europe; and his work has been seen in many juried and solo exhibits. Most recently, the Johns Hopkins, Evergreen Museum featured six of his sculptures in a 12 week solo exhibit. James A. Abbott, the Evergreen Museum Director, said of the artist's work: "Lawrence Schneider's sculptures demonstrate both an awe-inspiring mastery of engineering and a mood-instilling sense of poetry. They are works that both impress with the physical richness of their materials of manufacture and invitingly distract through exaggerated manipulations of light and shadow."
