Arye Shapiro, Artist
Arye (pronounced “ar-ee-ay”)
is a sculptor and painter based in Austin, Texas.
See his figurative artwork –
oil paintings plus ceramic and bronze sculpture, in the round and bas relief.
Some works are for sale, and commissions are welcome.
Painter
Arye paints from life and abstract work with oil on canvas. Sometimes his models pose with their items of personal significance.
Sculptor
About the Artist
Arye works in a number of different mediums and styles.
Gallery of Paintings
Browse some of Arye Shapiro’s paintings. Most were completed in his Austin studio. There he hires models to pose nude or clothed with an object of personal significance.
Gallery of Sculpture
Browse some of Arye Shapiro’s sculptures. Most were completed in his Austin studio. He works in a wide range of materials and styles to create meaningful pieces.
Materials and Techniques
These figures are sculpted from life in water-based clay. The clay is kept moist over a period of weeks while the form is refined. After the sculpture is complete, it is allowed to dry for 1–2 months. Then it is slowly fired in an electric kiln to cone 05 (about 1915 ° Fahrenheit).
Finally, a patina is applied to the ceramic sculpture. This patina consists of several layers of acrylic paint plus two layers of colored wax.
Care of Ceramic Sculpture
To maintain the colorful luster of these ceramic sculptures, simply buff them occasionally with a soft clean cloth. Every few years, brush them sparingly with neutral wax shoe polish and buff.
All ceramic sculptures may be cast in bronze upon request.
Arye Shapiro, Artist
Arye paints in oil and acrylic. He works in clay, wire, and wood to create sculpture. He has completed dozens of commissions, mostly for private clients.
Arye creates figure sculptures primarily from life, as well as designing abstract art. His respect for people and his familiarity with European art endow his sculptures and drawings with individual beauty, subtle grace, and quiet sensuality. Arye uses clay to model the physical structure of real people. He actively hones his skills with figure drawing and artistic anatomy studies.
“Working in three dimensions enables the sculptor to achieve a level of tangibility not possible with two-dimensional media such as painting and photography. My figure sculpture is a vehicle for expressing human emotions and spirituality as well as physical attributes.”
Arye Shapiro coordinated weekly life drawing sessions for the Austin Visual Arts Association and weekly life painting sessions out of his own studio in South Austin and, pre-pandemic, welcomed other artists to join him.
He was featured in The New York Optimist’s “Interview with Artist & Physicist Dr. Arye Shapiro,” October 7, 2022.