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In Memoriam: Joel Shapiro, 1941-2025
Artists Rights Society mourns the loss of our member Joel Shapiro, a visionary figure in contemporary sculpture and a champion for artists’ rights around the globe. Shapiro passed away on June 14th at his home in Manhattan at the age of 83.
One of the foremost sculptors of the last century, Shapiro is recognized for his unique visual language that combines abstraction and figuration and plays with shape and scale. Among his works are over 30 large-scale commissioned sculptures created for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, and other major sites and institutions around the globe. His work is held in numerous public collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate, London; the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and others.
Beyond his artistic legacy, Joel Shapiro is also remembered for his tireless advocacy for the rights of artists. An ARS member since 2001, Shapiro also served on Artists Rights Society’s advisory board. In 2017, Shapiro was elected president of CIAGP, the artists rights component of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), based in Paris. During his five-year tenure, Shapiro broadened the global visibility of CISAC and helped spur international efforts to strengthen copyright protections for visual artists. Shapiro’s outspoken support for the institution of an American artists resale right continues to bolster ARS efforts to advance such legislation.
We remain inspired by Shapiro’s pioneering contributions to the world of sculpture, as well as his steadfast commitment to his fellow artists.
Artwork © 2025 Joel Shapiro / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
