Fiber artist Laurie Wohl is internationally known for her unique Unweavings, liturgical projects, and interfaith message. Her works are held in the collections of the Museum of Arts and Design, American Bible Society, Constitutional Court of South Africa, Catholic Theological Union, and numerous other public and private collections. Her works have been on loan to the U.S. Embassies in Beirut, Vienna, Tunis, Cape Town, and Pretoria.
Major liturgical projects include The Psalms Project (12 pieces - Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago) and Talbot Bible Stoles Project (4 pieces - Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, NYC), as well as pieces for Monmouth Reform Temple (NJ), Congregation Solel (Highland Park, IL), Central Presbyterian Church (Atlanta), and First Presbyterian Church (Durham, NC). The Psalms Project received the Honor Design Award from the AIA Interfaith Forum. Her work has been recognized with awards from the Surface Design Association and the Liturgical and Sacred Art biennial exhibitions.
Current interdisciplinary projects include: “Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” “The Shabbat Project,” and “The Meditation Project.”
“Birds of Longing” - Wohl’s interfaith project relating poetry and spiritual texts from the Convivencia to contemporary Middle Eastern poetry in the context of her Unweavings fiber art pieces – travels nationwide from 2013-2025 to various educational, community, religious and interfaith venues.
“The Shabbat Project” travels through 2025 to venues in California, Vancouver, and New York City. And a new body of work – “The Meditation Project” – travels through 2025 to venues in Vancouver, New York City, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Wohl has curated a number of interfaith and multi-cultural exhibitions, including “With Many Voices” (Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago) and “Art from Soweto” (Catholic Theological Union, Chicago). Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, she has given lectures and workshops in Soweto, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, South Africa. She speaks and conducts workshops frequently on art and worship, text and textile. Among her special projects have been interactive set designs for full-length dance performances by Callince Dance (New York City) and Jan Erkert & Dancers (Chicago). Fiberarts, Surface Design Journal, and Seminary Ridge Review, among other publications and catalogues, have featured her Unweavings. Wohl’s work is discussed in Ori Soltes’ book “Tradition and Transformation.”
Ms. Wohl lives and works in New York City and southwest Wisconsin.
Wohl exhibits nationally in educational, community, religious and cultural institutions. Her exhibition history goes back to 1989 (see Resume). Below are selected exhibits, from the past 10 years.
“The Shabbat Project,” Open Doors Creative Arts Series, First Presbyterian Church,” Ann Arbor, Michigan (solo)
“Radical Kindness III,” Jewish Cultural Center, Chattanooga, TN (juried exhibition)
Liturgical and Sacred Art 2024, Nelson Family Gallery, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL (juried)
Poets and Painters 2024, Pharmacy Gallery, Springfield, IL (invited)
“Unweavings: Laurie Wohl’s Spiritual Narratives,” Pavilion Gallery, Central Synagogue, New York City (2023 solo)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (2022 exhibition)
“The Shabbat and Meditation Projects,” The Gallery, JCC of Greater Vancouver (2022- 2023 solo)
Liturgical and Sacred Art 2020, Springfield, IL (juried)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (2022 solo)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Komechak Gallery, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL (2020-2021 solo-virtual)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” The Poetry Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (2020 solo-actual and virtual)
“The Shabbat Project,” Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, NY, NY (2020 solo)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Interfaith Peace Conference, United Methodist Church, Lake Junaluska, NC (Nov. 21-24)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Charter Oak Cultural Center (solo exhibition)
“Spinoza: The Marrano of Reason,” Amstelkerk and Plein van Siena, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (group exhibition)
“The Shabbat Project,” The Art Gallery, Peninsula JCC, Foster City, CA (solo exhibition)
“The Shabbat Project,” Jewish Community Library, San Francisco, CA (solo exhibition)
“The Shabbat Project,” Isaacs Gallery, Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael, CA (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Dadian Gallery, Luce Center for the Arts
and Religion, Wesley Seminary, Washington D.C. (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Benedicta Arts Center, College of Saint Benedict-Saint John’s University, St. Joseph, MN (solo exhibition)
“The Shabbat Project,” Temple Adas Israel, Sag Harbor, NY (solo exhibition)
“A Journey Through Time: Works of the American Guild of Judaic Art", Marcus JCC of Atlanta (juried exhibition)
“Art 2018 Nathan D. Rosen Biennal Juried Art Exhibition,” Rosen Museum Gallery, Levis JCC, Boca Raton (juried exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Interchurch Art Gallery, Indiana Interchurch Center, Indianapolis, IN (solo exhibition)
“Unwoven Testaments,” Weems Gallery, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Art Gallery, Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, Indianapolis, IN (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Deutser Art Gallery, Evelyn Rubinstein Jewish Community Center, Houston, TX (solo exhibition)
AGJA exhibition, Sherwin Miller Museum for Jewish Art, Tulsa, OK (juried exhibition)
“Walls,” Jewish Cultural Center, Chattanooga, TN (juried exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Nau-Gibson Concourse, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Isaacs Gallery, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, San Rafael, CA (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Teitelbaum Family Center for the Arts, Addison Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, Los Gatos, CA (solo exhibition)
Liturgical and Sacred Art 2016, Springfield, IL (juried exhibition)
“To Forgive and Remember: Reshaping Contemporary Consciousness,” Derfner Judaica Museum, Riverdale, NY (invitational exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” The Patio Gallery, Jewish Community Center, Louisville, KY (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Erdman Art Gallery, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ (solo exhibition)
“On Wings of Prayer,” BEKI (Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel), New Haven, CT (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL (solo exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Gettysburg, PA (solo exhibition)
“The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat,” Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum, New York, NY (invitational exhibition)
“Liturgical and Sacred Art 2014,” Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL (juried exhibition)
“Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory,” Doug Adams Gallery at the Bade Museum, Center for the Arts, Religion & Education, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA (solo exhibition)
“The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat,” Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum, New York, NY (invitational exhibition)
“On Wings of Prayer,” Tychman Shapiro Gallery, Sabes Jewish Community Center, Minneapolis, MN (solo exhibition)
“On Wings of Prayer,” First Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC (solo exhibition)
“Marie, embroidering survival,” dance performance by Caliince Dance, set design by Laurie Wohl (premiere, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, NY, NY, June 8, 2012)
Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition, National Episcopal Church General Convention, Indianapolis Convention Center, IND (invitational exhibition)
