Gloria Luria

Gloria Luria passed away peacefully May 26th surrounded by her loved ones. She had a remarkable life and shared her passion for the arts with her community and world-renowned museums. Her talent to recognize artists in their formative years led to many long term creative relationships.

Born in 1925 and raised in Brooklyn, Gloria graduated from Skidmore College in 1947 as a Fine Arts major. She continued post-graduate work at Brooklyn’s prestigious Pratt Institute and studied at The Art Students League of New York. She began her career as an interior designer on New York City’s fashionable 57th Street.

Gloria married Leonard Luria in 1949, and in 1960, moved to Miami. She opened the first Gloria Luria Gallery in downtown Miami in 1966. In 1975, she moved her gallery to Bay Harbour’s Kane Concourse.

The gallery’s inaugural exhibition included paintings from her own collection. She introduced works by celebrated artists George Segal, Pat Steir, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Larry Rivers to Miami’s fledgling art scene.

Gloria Luria was a founding member and president of the Art Dealers Association of South Florida in the 70’s. She was instrumental in first bringing “Art Miami” to the Miami Beach Convention Center, which in turn paved the way for Art Basel.

As a contemporary art enthusiast and collector for over 50 years, Gloria made it a priority to share her passion for art by donating numerous pieces to museums in both South Florida and New York. Gloria Luria was recognized as a Fellow for Life in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Fellowship Program.

Over her lifetime, Gloria and her late husband, Leonard, supported not just the visual

arts, but the performing arts, as well. The recipients includes Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jacob’s Pillow, Barrington Stage, the Adrienne Arsht

Center for the Performing Arts and the New World Symphony.

The May 1984 edition of Architectural Digest featured Leonard and Gloria’s home. The article “Orchestrating for Fine Art,” celebrates both her home and art collection. Of the house, Gloria said, “I love...watching the light change and play across the rooms. The ceilings soar dramatically, and mentally I soar with them. Best of all, the paintings let me dream.”

To express the community’s gratitude for enriching Greater Miami’s cultural status through superlative art, on the 20th anniversary of the Gloria Luria Gallery, by Order of Proclamation, Metropolitan Dade County Mayor Steven P. Clark named February 7, 1986 “Gloria Luria Day.”

In 1991, the Gloria Luria Gallery celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Later, when Gloria retired, she was asked if this was the end of an era. She replied, “No... It’s the beginning of another.”

Gloria and her late husband Leonard were staunch supporters of the State of Israel. They supported the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and established the first garden at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. They were long time members of Temple Beth Shalom on Miami Beach and Temple Beth Am in South Miami.

Gloria is survived by her three children, Peter ( Pam ) Luria, Henry Luria and Nancy Luria Cohen. Gloria also has ten grandchildren, Alexa Cohen, Erin Kaye ( Andrew ), Brianna Collie ( Gabriel ), Joshua Cohen, Joseph Luria, Julian ( Laura ) Luria, Jaimie Luria, Francesca ( Cole ) Mancuso, Ashton Luria and Isabella Luria; and two great grandchildren Leonard Luria and Nika Luria.

A funeral service for Gloria will be held Monday, May 29, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels at Mount Nebo (Kendall), 5900 SW 77th Ave, Miami, FL 33143.

Memorial donations in her honor may be made to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and PAMM ( Perez Art Museum Miami ).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.RiversideGordonMemorialChapels.com for the Luria family.