Born in 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Albert LeCoff is an arts administrator and artist dedicated to woodworking and, specifically, lathe-turned art. LeCoff was introduced to woodworking in shop class as a child and knew early on that he wanted to pursue it professionally. While studying at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio (BA, 1975), he spent several years as an apprentice for production woodturner Manny Erez. Rather than pursuing graduate school, LeCoff opted to build up his own woodworking practice. After leading a successful workshop with students at the Rochester Institute of Technology, he became interested in promoting the field through symposia and exhibitions, co-organized with fellow woodworker and educator Palmer Sharpless and his twin brother Alan. These symposia were foundational moments for the American woodworking community and helped connect turners who frequently worked in isolation. In 1986, Albert and Alan LeCoff formalized their efforts to highlight woodworking by co-founding the Wood Turning Center (now the Center for Art in Wood) in Philadelphia. After serving as executive director of the Center for Art in Wood for more than 30 years, LeCoff announced his plans to retire in 2018. Over the course of his tenure, the organization built an extensive collection, hosted numerous exhibitions, and launched a vibrant residency program, now in its second decade. Known for his long-lasting commitment to the field, LeCoff was named an Honorary Lifetime Member of the American Association of Woodturners in 2008 and received the 2003 Collectors of Wood Art Lifetime Achievement Award. Albert LeCoff was elected an Honorary Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2003.