Nat Mayer Shapiro (1919-2005) studied art at the Pratt Institute and the Artists Students League. He spent nearly thirty years with his family in France, working and creating. In 1985 he came back to the United States and settled in Westchester. He was instrumental in founding the Upstream Gallery in Dobbs Ferry, and served as its President from 1995-2002.

Throughout his creative life, Nat tried different media, different techniques, and different artistic outlets. The result was a variety of mature, original, sometimes powerful, sometimes whimsical works.

Throughout his work, Nat pursued his quest for depth, for a third dimension. Whether they are whimsical or serious, strictly organized or loose, Nat’s works are never grim or stifled, they are joyful, they are dancing. They reflect the man who loved life, loved art and always looked forward, exploring various techniques to create something new, different and, for him, unusual.

Curated by Arle´ Sklar-Weinstein with special thanks to Mirella Shapiro