David Shapiro (1944-2014) was an American multimedia artist known for his abstract work rooted in symbols. Shapiro was born in Brooklyn, New York and studied at the Pratt Institute. Shapiro then received an MFA in 1968 from Indiana University.
Shapiro incorporated Buddhist hand symbols, yoga pose motifs, circles, spirals, waves, and flames into his work and was able to translate these details into burlap, nylon screens, and Japanese papers, often creating textural surfaces on top of the substrate (canvas, paper, etc.). Shapiro also used abstract compositions, along with color, form, and texture, to provoke meditative consciousness and tranquility.
Shapiro’s artworks are held in many collections, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the University of Chicago, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and MOMA, among many others.
The O’Neill School is home to three of Shapiro’s works.
Leave a Reply