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Joel Shapses Shapses' sculpture is prominently displayed in private collections and public places throughout North and South America. His remarkable skill for portraying balance and movement is expressed in his abstract forms. The creative forces that give vitality to his realistic pieces is seen throughout his life forms. The more avant-garde statements that are made in the mixed neon and stone media elicit an excitement that occurs when the artist takes a quantum leap toward ingenuity. Whether realistic or abstract, the viewer's tactile senses are aroused with almost a sense of urgency to explore each form in greater depth than just visually. This indeed is and continues to be a main objective of the artist as he creates his work. Born in New Jersey, he has spent most of his life on the Eastern coast of the U.S. Having an inherent artistic gift, he began sculpting in a primitive way at the age of five. Much of his schooling concentrated on the sciences. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from C.W. Post College in 1967. It was during his studies here that his talent was recognized by famed sculptor and professor, Alfred Van Loen. Shapses then completed four years at Temple University where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1971. During these four years, anatomy professor Charles Santangelo had also recognized the artistic strength that Shapses had so well put forth in the required sculpting exercises for the anatomy courses. Shapses traveled throughout the world at which time he acquired much knowledge about how and where various stones were quarried and how various civilization had used them creatively throughout the centuries. This knowledge was soon to become a integral part of the selection process of the stone he would be using for specific forms. Soon after his travels, he relocated to South Florida which has remained his residence since 1972. Early on in his sculpting career, he worked under the same roof as famed sculptor Enzo Gallo. This is where Shapses created on of his largest commission pieces to date, a six foot abstract for Saks Fifth Avenue in Fairlane Michigan. The piece was commission as a focal point for the premier anchor store for the Fairlane Mall. Minnesota marble was his choice for this work as he felt the need for using domestic resources for this project. He designs and creates his works from his studio located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He served as President of the Broward Art Guild from 1977-1978. Although the majority of his works are non-commissioned, he enjoys the challenge of working with the client that has specific ideas that they wish to be transformed into one of his creations. Mild mannered and introspective, Shapses' work is the quintessential expression of art communicating feeling. PUBLIC COLLECTIONS INCLUDE: Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City and
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