Joel Shapiro is an American sculptor, known for his sculptures which sensitively interpret shape, space and colour. Known for exploring new creative avenues and working methods, Shaprio has experimented with a range of media from bronze to natural or painted wood. Working with the simplicity of geometric lines, his innovative angular sculptures are instantly recognisable for their raw, energetic nature. The nature of his unframed installations varies dramatically in size and colour. They confidently capture a sense of movement; sometimes positioned on the surface of floors or walls, his figures never firmly touch the ground. Shapiro’s bold, adventurous practises lead the way for many contemporary artists’ explorations of dynamic displays.
Joel Shapiro’s iconic piece Loss and Regeneration is two-part bronze installation placed in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. The cubic form of a house almost turned upside down, powerfully conveys the tragedy of the destruction of family lives in the Holocaust. The tall, sculpted figure standing alone, some distance from the house, juxtaposes this to the image of rebirth, creating a visual sculptural dialogue. Shapiro’s work is highly regarded internationally, held in prized museum collections and exhibited regularly with Galerie Daniel Templon in Paris, and the Pace Gallery in New York City.
