Laura Clerici works with traditional materials in the Orthodox tradition to produce icons..
In the early 90’s, she was a diplomat stationed in New York City when she first encountered the Russian founder of the Prosopon School, which emphasizes spiritual involvement and Orthodox traditions in the creation of religious images. She was unable to take advantage of the class, but never gave up the idea of doing icons. Consequently, when she was assigned to the US Embassy in Moscow seven years later, she was delighted to learn of another Russian willing to teach foreigners to paint icons.
It was only much later that she learned that her instructor was in fact affiliated with the Prosopon School. When she returned to the US she began taking workshops with the School several times a year, often traveling from her overseas assignments for this purpose. Most recently she has been studying with other advanced students at a retreat center in Chatawa, Mississippi and at Princeton University.
Laura retired from the State Department in 2006, and so is able to devote more time to art. She is also a volunteer chaplain at the INOVA Alexandria Hospital.
In addition to the icons available at her studio at Stifel and Capra, Laura takes commissions.
