Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts

Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts Sam Maloof (1916-2009), an internationally known woodworker, built his work/living compound over a pe Today the relocated residence is open as a living museum.
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Sam Maloof is acknowledged as one of the finest woodworkers of our time. As a leader of the California modern arts movement, he designed and produced furniture infused with profound artistic vision for more than half a century until his death in 2009. Maloof’s work was the subject of a prestigious retrospective at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in 2001 and is part of their p

ermanent collection. His furniture is in some of the most important private collections in the nation and the permanent collections of the Boston Museum of Art, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and many other fine museums. In 1985 he was named a MacArthur Fellow and received honorary doctorates from the Rhode Island School of Design, Aurora University in Illinois and the California State University at San Bernardino. Alfreda Maloof, an artist, teacher and former Director of Arts and Crafts at the Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1938-1941, met and married Sam Maloof while completing her MFA at Scripps College. She inspired Sam in his work and managed the Maloof woodworking business until her death in 1998. Central to Sam’s work and life is the sprawling hand-built residence and adjoining woodshop. Nestled in a lemon grove near the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, the residence is filled with Maloof furniture and one of America’s outstanding arts and crafts collections. In 1990, the Maloof residence and woodshop were deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. With the long-planned Foothill Freeway extension set to cut through the Maloof site, negotiations began to save the buildings by moving them to a nearby location. The original location was a working lemon grove and the new six-acre site was chosen partly for the existing lemon trees that help recreate the original environment and also compliment the new landscaping. Once again, each room is filled with treasures that give this unique home its spirit. Sam designed a new house that was constructed below the original residence. The woodshops were moved to the new site, as were many of the trees from the former Maloof property. The landscaping consists of a natural garden of water-wise California native plants and compatible plants from other Mediterranean climate zones around the world. Benches, sculpture, and picnic areas offer spaces for visitors’ quiet reflection and relaxation. The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation, established in 1994, is committed to creating a pre-eminent center that preserves the Maloof’s legacy and fosters the arts and crafts movement. The work of the Foundation recognizes the ever increasing role of the crafts in our world of machine-made products – the reconnecting of human values with natural forms and materials. A principal responsibility of the Foundation is protection and conservation of the art, furnishings, structures and grounds entrusted to it. The residence itself is one of the most treasured parts of the collection, reflecting the living spirit of the arts and crafts movement throughout. The Foundation also makes the Maloof Center available to the public, artists and researchers and is developing a variety of programs, including visiting craftsmen, workshops, and arts and crafts exhibits. The Jacobs Education Center provides gallery and meeting space. After the move, Sam continued to create furniture at the new site and to add to his fine art collection that encompasses work from all media, including many renowned artists such as Maria Martinez, Millard Sheets, Harrison McIntosh, Paul Soldner, Kay Sekimachi, and Bob Stocksdale.

Upcoming workshopsArt + Craft Boho Chic Hand Crocheted Beaded Necklace on Saturday, June 6 with Espie Nuno-saiga on Sat...
05/30/2026

Upcoming workshops

Art + Craft
Boho Chic Hand Crocheted Beaded Necklace on Saturday, June 6 with Espie
Nuno-saiga on Saturday, June 13 with Sumi
Frame Loom Weaving on June 20 with Ruthellyn
Mixed Media Collage on Saturday, June 27 with Carrie - SOLD OUT
Mosaic Garden Sphere on Saturday, July 11 with Dawn and Luz
Handmade Linocut Card Printing on Saturday, July 18 with Cesar
Moonlit Ocean Watercolor Art on Saturday, July 25 with Aleta

Woodworking
Intro to Woodworking 101 - June edition on Friday, June 26 and July 24 with Scott

Check website for more information!

Did you know that Alfreda and Sam maintained a lemon grove and sold their lemons to the local co-op to help generate inc...
05/29/2026

Did you know that Alfreda and Sam maintained a lemon grove and sold their lemons to the local co-op to help generate income which was very critical especially at the beginning of Sam’s career? Twenty-five years ago, the historic Maloof home and studio were relocated to our current site because it once too was a lemon grove.

This June 13, we are launching Project Maloof Lemon Grove to benefit the Maloof’s mission-drive work. In honor of our lemon grove past, artists have each painted/assemblaged/mosaiced (whatever their choice of medium) on a wooden tree template. We thank these artists for their creative work and invite you to celebrate them and the Maloof. On June 13, join us from 2-4 for music, refreshments, arts, and community to celebrate this project as well as the opening of our inaugural members reception.

Sneak peak of one completed lemon tree. Thank you Cristine Schwandt!

Project Maloof Lemon Grove Participating Artist List

Gregory Adamson , Jannesy Bossuyt .boss, Dee Marcellus Cole, Cosme Cordova , Estefani Cortes, Raymond Fernandez , Sumi Foley, Cesar Garcia , Sandy Garcia , Jonathan Godinez .studio, Athena Hahn .hahn , Rebecca Hamm .art, Ed Hume, Aleta Jacobson , Karen Ruth Karlsson Denise Kraemer .denise, Jonna Lee .needs.sleep, Manny LeGaspe , Kristi Lippire .lippire , Eric Martinez , Leslie Matamoros, Juan Navarro , Karen Neuiber, John David O’Brien, Crystal Rodriguez .rodriguez.leal.art , Christine Schwandt, Eileen Senner, Andrew K. Thompson , Debi Varvi

Thank you to presenting sponsors The Ruth and Joseph C. Reed Foundation for the Arts. And to Tom and Toni Bostick (thank you to Tom for creating the 30 lemon tree templates) and those who are lemon tree sponsors! Interested? Check out our website!

Thank you and Leo Pope for the “Build and Play Your Own Cajón Drum” workshop. The participants had a blast. “Excellent...
05/26/2026

Thank you and Leo Pope for the “Build and Play Your Own Cajón Drum” workshop. The participants had a blast. “Excellent workshop,” said John. “Michael and Leo are great instructors.” Omid said, “This was a wonder workshop. The instructor was outstanding, the project was wonderful and my fellow students were awesome.” And Ernie said “What a fun time! A very new wood worker and someone with negative musical abilities, I had a great time! Easy to follow instructions and help when needed/wanted but not so much I couldn’t express myself in the build process… The personal concert, on each of our creations, was an added bonus! Be video ready at the end!“

Interested in workshops like this? Sign up for our enewsletter (link on our website) to know when another workshop launches!

05/24/2026

Call for submissions!
2026 Maloof Members Exhibition
June 12, 2026 - September 12, 2026
Jacobs Center Gallery

Opening reception: Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 2-4pm in conjunction with the celebration of Project Maloof Lemon Grove.

The inaugural members exhibition carries forth the Maloof tradition of support for our community of artists. Featured is work across many mediums from clay to woodworking to painting.

What can be shown? All mediums welcome. One piece per member. No size requirements (within reason). Work must be able to be exhibited within the Jacobs Center Gallery on the walls or floor (we do have podiums available). Bring work ready to be installed, i.e. framed with hanging hardware. The work must be exhibited the entire run of the show with pick up to be scheduled after the closing date. The work can not have already been exhibited at the Maloof. The work must the artist’s original design/intellectual property and not violate any copyright.

What are you bringing? Let us know here what you will be exhibiting. Deadline to enter information is Thursday, May 28, 2026. Link to enter your work’s details here.

Artwork drop-off: Friday, May 29, 2026 and Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 10am-4pm both dates at the Jacob Center Gallery, Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts.

Interested in exhibiting? Become a member today!

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Pictured: Eight Ladies by J. Lea, Bowl from a Board by Robert(Bob) Verseput, Baby’s First Nightlight: Don’t Look Under the Bed by Sandy Huse, round woven plate by Jan Schachter, Reliquary of the Seven Challenges by Stephen E. Grzesik, Puzzle Box with Sox by Diane Nelson, In the Tree by Aleta Jacobson, and Douglas Iris by Pia Moriarty

05/19/2026

Sgraffito on Porcelain Vases: Harmony and Nature Workshop
with Karla Camacho
Saturday, May 23, 2026

Join artist Karla Camacho for an immersive, hands-on workshop exploring the art of sgraffito, an ancient technique of carving imagery into clay to reveal layers beneath. Participants will use a vase of this size handmade by Karla as base.

Time in woodshop with Larry White is so special!
05/18/2026

Time in woodshop with Larry White is so special!

The Arches Bench workshop at the Maloof Foundation with Larry White and family. Visit malooffoundation.org for sign-up info.

05/16/2026

Don’t miss you chance to see both exhibitions, “Solomonica: A Series of Cabinets” by Beston Barnett and “Handwork: Crafting the CounterCulture” featuring Garry Knox Bennett and Nicki Marx. Both exhibitions close next Saturday, May 23 at 4pm.

Check our website for details. Admission is always free for our Jacobs Center Gallery.
barnett

The Maloof education team is at the Cucamonga Valley Water District’s Open House & Water Fair Celebration on Saturday Ma...
05/16/2026

The Maloof education team is at the Cucamonga Valley Water District’s Open House & Water Fair Celebration on Saturday May 16 from 9am to 12:00pm. We are sharing information about our historic home museum, galleries, workshop programs and our 5 acre water-wise Beverly’s Discover Garden. Come check us out, do some craft activities, take some seeds, and learn about the wildlife that call our garden home.

We so look forward to welcoming the California Preservation Foundation this Wednesday!
05/04/2026

We so look forward to welcoming the California Preservation Foundation this Wednesday!

Feature Friday! Do you know about Southern California's Sam Maloof house?

Twenty-five years ago, the historic Sam Maloof home and compound was relocated to make way for the 210 freeway. One of the most successful public-private partnerships to relocate a historic home in the Inland Empire, the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation have stewarded the living legacy of Sam Maloof, one of America's most renowned studio craft furniture makers, for decades.

Sam was one of the greatest woodworkers of the 20th Century. His unique talent was recognized when he was the first craft person to receive the MacArthur Fellowship (the MacArthur Genius grant). His furniture is immediately recognizable for its flowing, organic shapes and stunning aesthetic.

See more photos of the historic home at: https://www.malooffoundation.org/photos-of-historic-home

And join us on May 6th for a special study tour of the Sam Maloof house, part of our annual conference.

Participants will tour the historic home and garden and hear from architects and engineers on how a recent roofing rehabilitation project balanced Sam's DIY approach to home design and building while ensuring the historic home is leak proof for years to come.

Learn more at: https://cpf.lineupr.com/cpf26/item/maloof-house-2



Interior Photos by Tom Bostick

Address

5131 Carnelian Street
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
91701

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19099800412

Website

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