Overview

My father, Franz Schroeder, a celebrated and highly respected stained glass and mosaic artist, passed away late in 2018 at the age of 89. He was a prolific artist his whole life, and for well over 60 years he moved the craft of stained glass ever forward. His distinctive style can be seen in more than 350 churches, mostly found in the US. I, Juergen Schroeder, the youngest of 4 sons, decided to take a journey of discovery, tracing my father’s footsteps as well as his artistic development, from his early days up to his final accomplishments. This journey begins with the clearing of my parents’ house and art studio in Bavaria, Germany. I was able to collect all of my father’s remaining work and correspondence; these pieces form the puzzle of his life. Over time, I’ll be putting the puzzle together. I am writing this volume to support the work of young artists’ everywhere by offering artistic archives to fuel their creativity and a story to fuel their dreams. How and why one’s art evolves is foundational to this tale. In using my father’s trajectory as an example, I hope to motivate others. For some, this book offers more simply a comprehensive overview of my father’s accomplishments. And for me this is a very personal journey. Fueled by an intense curiosity, I will get to know my father, maybe far better than I did before. Art book, 240 pages, covering the life and work of noted stained glass artist Franz Schroeder. Visually stunning, featuring a selection of 650+ original sketches, and concept drawings as well as many beautifully executed church windows, this volume will reflect the changes in Schroeder’s evolution over time to reach his own distinctive contemporary style.