TAKE A DEEP BREATH, RELAX, FEEL FREE and ENJOY. Laura Shaz grew up in Rockville, Maryland, USA. She made aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) in 2005. She studied sociology and Near Eastern & Judaic Studies at Brandeis University. She completed her graduate studies in conflict resolution and mediation from Tel Aviv University. Laura dreams, paints and builds friendship among people of different religious and ethnicities.

Laura draws and paints with various mediums, but mainly with oil colors. She paints group murals, designs shirts and illustrates educational material. To transcend language barriers, she applies visual arts as a communication and mediating tool, striving to create an environment of mutual understanding and respect. Her studio is in South Tel Aviv, Israel.



“Peace and Love in Israel”

When you meet the artist, Laura Shaz, this is the first association that is possible to connect with her-peace and love.

Laura Shaz, a young artist, made aliyah with a clear Zionist ideology of being part of the Jewish state. Full of motivation and belief that peace and love are possible here, in our land that is stricken with conflicts, Laura presented a series of work in her first solo exhibit in August 2009.

Through an expressive, free and colorful style, she delivered her message, stressing the positive aspects of life in this geographical region, unlike what is seen in the media. In her work, she tries to give space for the good and the beautiful, which are also part of the truth of life, instead of the difficulties and the conflict.

Laura dedicates a respected part of her life to deal with Israeli conflicts from different perspectives. She works and volunteers in education and in the community, where their goals are to advance the understanding of people in the area.