About the Artist
Barry Shapiro is a graduate of Pratt Institute, with a BFA in painting and printmaking, where he studied with renowned artists James Grashow, Vasilios Toulis, Rudolph Baranik, Franklin Faust and Audrey Flack. He then spent two years working as an apprentice art restorer, using those acquired skills to advance his personal artistic vision. However, he left the Manhattan art scene early on and traveled extensively around the globe for several years. He cites these adventures as major influences in his life and art.
“I admit to having wanderlust. I love to travel and have new experiences, tastes, visual stimulus. I’ve never been able to sit still, especially in my work. I love to try new styles, mediums and introduce new influences to my painting. I like to play with it, have fun with it. The thing that drives me is the experience, not the result. So when a piece works, feels right, it’s most rewarding.”
Returning to New York, worked as an illustrator, designing books, magazine covers and corporate art. He was a regular contributor to New York Magazine, the New York Times and Travel and Leisure. His advertising clients included Fortune 500 companies and top ad agencies.
He then segued to a second career in film and video, winning numerous awards, including an Emmy and a Clio as a producer and director.
All the while, he developed a very personal style of painting, using pastels, acrylics and oils. Today, he continues working his dual passions of film and fine art. His portraits and landscapes are to be found in private collections around the world. His abstract work is exhibited nationwide.
Today, Barry teaches classes in painting, drawing and creative thinking. He is the author of numerous short stories and a screenplay about the French artist Suzanne Valadon.
Past exhibitions include The Vero Beach Museum of Art; The Martin County Courthouse Art Center; The Nathan B. Rosen Museum Gallery; Raw Space Gallery; Gallery Pelar; Landmark Gallery; Galerie Nouvelle; The Center for Spiritual Care; Lighthouse Gallery; Gallery Veritas; The Emerson Center; and the Brownstone Art Gallery.
He currently resides in Vero Beach, Florida.
Photo Painting Credit: Cosmicdarkroom