Lauren Elder is an environmental artist and designer who practices “artful functionality” in her community-built projects. Since 2000 Elder has co-created nine urban gardens in the S.F. Bay Area with students and community members. She has also developed two projects near Cali, Colombia (Nashira EcoVillage). Recent artworks have been featured at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco. Elder received a B.A. in Fine Arts/Sculpture from UCLA and professional training in Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley Extension. 2012-present.  She received a Potrero Nuevo Environmental Award and subsequent multi-year project funding.