Lucien Shapiro
Dancing between life and death, Lucien Shapiro’s art is rife with found objects, textures, cast forms, manipulations, raw substances, oddities and multiple personalities. Treating forgotten objects and memories as treasure, he creates a kingdom under which new life is born through sculpture. Urban Obsessions explores both artist’s and viewer’s perception of identity, addiction, and time.
Composed of elaborately constructed masks and ornately armored weaponry, this collection of works examines a relationship between modern waste and memories of ancient cultural artifacts. Practices and customs from the past are brought back to light through Shapiro’s revival of discarded materials, transformed into objects analogous with self protection. Behind masks and armor, we’re enabled with the power to separate and shield ourselves from reality, creating new identities through a deliberate opposition of our true selves. Urban Obsessions tangibly relates the past’s and present’s ritualistic escape from stress, pain and even love.
Utilizing raw materials correlated to various forms of addiction such as drugs, violence, and collections, Shapiro’s sculptures embody the act of compulsive preoccupation. Through his own addiction to the process of painstaking repetition and meticulousness of his craft, we are presented with works that challenge preconceived notions of habits, impulses, and dependencies. Evident in his art is an acceptance of whatever result would come from the consolidation and manipulation of numerous imperfections.
In today’s day and age, the ease at which information and products are made available has led to a continual state of over-consumption. Everyday items have become neglectfully disposable, and there is an immediate desire for what’s new and what’s next. Shapiro’s work, a laborious craft and meditative consumption of time, transforms forgotten objects into nostalgically interesting and beautiful relics that compel viewers to re-evaluate what our everyday possessions represent and mean to us. Lucien Shapiro invites us to slow down, to not only gain appreciation for the artifacts that tell a story about who we are in this day and age, but to find inspiration in the value of time and craft.
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From The Mud Into The Light 1, 2020
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From The Mud Into The Light 2, 2020
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From The Mud Into The Light 3, 2020
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99 Songs Golden Home, 2019
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A Straight Line has to Bend to Begin Spirit Totem, 2019
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Balancing and Weighted on the Crystals and Chains We Stole from Ourselves, 2019
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Floating on a Pyramid Below a Golden Tipped Moon Spirit Totem, 2019
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Golden Dawn, 2019
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Holding His Head as Close to Her Heart Without Bleeding Spirit Totem, 2019
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Intention Portal, 2019
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Mouth Full of Love and Rooted in Protection Spirit Totem, 2019
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Plerophoria Portal Object, 2019
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Reformation from Rinsing After Scrying, 2019
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Two Bodies Fused at a Belly of Birthed Intention Yet Whispered in Silence Angel Spirit Totem, 2019
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Kyanite Protection Shank 3, 2017
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Rose with Leaves 2, 2017
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Splitting the Flame to Spin the Diamond Mask, 2017
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Rose with Leaves, 2017
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"Lush" Group Exhibition
16 Jan - 6 Feb 2021 Hashimoto Contemporary NYCHashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Lush, a group show curated by Jennifer Rizzo. The exhibition brings together a group of over thirty artists from around the globe who have...Read more -
Lucien Shapiro - "Oculus"
3 - 24 Aug 2019 Hashimoto Contemporary SFLucien Shapiro's solo exhibition 'Oculus' debuts at Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco with an opening night reception and performance on Saturday, August 3rd from 6pm-9pm. The artist will be in...Read more -
Lucien Shapiro - "From Ash to Diamonds"
4 - 18 Nov 2017 Hashimoto Contemporary SFHashimoto Contemporary SF is pleased to present “From Ash to Diamonds”, a solo exhibition by Lucien Shapiro. The artist's newest body of work mediates on the transformative power of destruction....Read more
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Hashimoto Contemporary SF 2019 Annual
2020 soft cover, 80 pages
Publisher: Paragon Books
Dimensions: 9" x 12" Read more -
Lucien Shapiro
"A Fools Journey" 2018 Hardcover, 260 pages
Publisher: Not a Cult
Dimensions: 5" x 8" Read more -
Hashimoto Contemporary 2017 Annual
2017 Softcover, 80 pages
Publisher: Paragon Books
Dimensions: 9" x 12" Read more
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Installation: "LUSH" curated by Jennifer Rizzo
January 23, 2021We would like to thank everyone who has made an appointment to view 'LUSH' curated by Jennifer Rizzo at Hashimoto Contemporary NYC. Appointments can be...Read more -
Announcing The 2019 Gallery Annuals!
May 2, 2020We are pleased to announce the publication of our 2019 Gallery Annuals. These perfect bound softcover catalogs highlight the many monthly exhibtions hosted at our...Read more -
Opening Night: Lucien Shapiro "Oculus"
August 6, 2019Opening reception of Lucien Shapiro's solo exhibition "Oculus" at Hashimoto Contemporary San Francisco.Read more -
Coming Soon: Lucien Shapiro "Oculus"
July 25, 2019Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Oculus - a new solo exhibition by Bay Area-born artist Lucien Shapiro . Additionally, the artist has created an...Read more