grosser attended harvard university where he studied mathematics, graduating with honors in 1924. while at university, a friend brought grosser to a life painting class at the boston architectural school. from then on he continued life drawing there and at the south boston art school. while at harvard, grosser also took painting classes from denman ross. while still a student, grosser's paintings were displayed at the fogg art museum. grosser was awarded harvard's sheldon fellowship which allowed him to study painting in france.