Sam Maloof: A Tribute to Freda celebrates the work
of a craftsman honored as a “Living Treasure
of California” and hailed as a major influence
in the development of the American Studio movement.
The exhibition opens simultaneously with an
exhibition of Maloof’s work at the
Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington,
D.C.
Maloof was born in Chino, California. After serving
in the Army during World War II, he returned to
Southern California to begin his woodworking
career. His first pieces were made to furnish a
small home he and his wife Freda rented in
Claremont. In the early 50s they purchased a lemon
grove in nearby Alta Loma and Sam began producing
furniture in a building originally used as a
chicken coop.
Maloof’s reputation grew quickly in the 60s
and 70s as his work was featured in a number of
important exhibitions including the California
Design exhibition in Pasadena (11 in all), Objects
USA at the Smithsonian, and In Praise of Hands, an
exhibition presented by the World Crafts
Council.
His work has been shown at the Museum of
Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston; the Honolulu Academy of Art; the
Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Craft and Folk Art
Museum, Los Angeles; the Vatican, Rome Italy; and
the American Craft Museum, New York.
Maloof is now a National Trustee and Chairman of
the Academy of Fellows of the American Craft
Council and a member on the Board of the World
Craft Congress.
