Michael A Shapiro
photo@michaelashapiro.com
www.michaelashapiro.com

Michael A Shapiro was first known for his photographs of invaded cultures, both the Lakota and the Inuit. Born in Oakland, California, in 1954, Shapiro grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and attended photography classes at the Sioux City Art Center (1966–1968). When the small newspaper he was working for folded in 1973, he sold his cameras and worked as a writer. After earning a graduate degree in writing and translation, Shapiro worked as a writing instructor until 1999, when he returned full time to photography. Between work on Inuit and Lakota projects, Shapiro embedded himself with a rodeo company and traveled, making photographs of cowboys and rodeo workers, both behind the chutes and during performances. He also spent a month in Dublin, photographing the staff and patrons of La Dolce Vita, an Italian Wine Bar in Temple Bar. His final finite project involved a series of portraits of people in the process of foreclosure.

Shapiro is currently working on long term projects, Urban Journal and Shifting Ground, allowing his work to evolve and abstract.

Career (Professional)

Photographer, 2000 - current

Photographer, Educator, Writer – prior to 2000

Awards

Grant -Tree of Life Artist Foundation, 2024

Black and White Spider Nominee 2024, 2023

One Man Exhibitions (selected)

Urban Journal, The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, 2014

Northern Warehouse Artist Cooperative, St. Paul, MN, 2008, 2009

Cafés, Nuance Gallery, Beresford, SD, 2007

Paris, Black Hills State University, Ruddel Gallery, Spearfish, SD, 2006

Rodeo, Dakota Wesleyan University, Middle Border Museum, Mitchell, SD 2005

Inuit, Dakota Prairie Museum, Aberdeen, SD, 2005

Paris, Coffee Works, Sioux City, IA, 2005

Inuit, Dow Gallery, Richmond, IN, 2002

Pine Ridge, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 2001

Pine Ridge, Indiana University East Gallery, Richmond, IN, 2001

Pine Ridge, SW Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN, 2001

Group Shows

Off the Cuff, Minneapolis Photo Center, 2012

IFP, Minneapolis, 2012

Landscape, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, 2011

Facing the Lens, Minneapolis Institute of Art, online, 2010

Arts of Community, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN, 2010

Urban Views, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL, with Chris Faust, 2010

Percent for Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2009

Summer Exhibition, St. Cloud State University, St Cloud, MN, 2009

Bicycle Art, Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MN, 2009

Up Close, CMCA, Rockport, Maine, Group, Curated by Britta Konau, 2007

Paris, Open Shutter Gallery, Durango, CO, Two Person, 2007

Face to Face, SDSMT, Apex Gallery, Rapid City, SD, featured on poster, 2006

Views of the River, GAR Hall, Yankton, SD, 2005

PUBLICATIONS - Work has been featured in

Fossils of Light + Time, Book, Elizabeth Avedon, 2015

Photojournale, 2013. Documentary Shooters (.com), 2012

Stealing Plums (blog), 2011. English Education (blog), 2011

B&W Mag (bandwmag.com), 2011. Durango Herald, review, 2007

Made of Light. 2010. Anthology Family of Man 2. 2008. Anthology

Digital Journalist, Marianne Fulton, 2006. South Dakota Magazine, 2006

Photo District News, Photographer of Year-South Dakota , 2006

Books:

La Dolce Vita. 2015. Bridges, 2009. Limited Edition Artist

Concepts. How Pictures Mean, 2014 Paris. 2007.

Urban Geometry. 2011. Pine Ridge. 2006.

Rodeo Cowboys. 2010 Inuit. 2003.

Urban Journal. (4 Volumes) Awaiting Publication

COLLECTIONS

SFMOMA

Walker

National Gallery of Scotland Library

SF Camerawork Library

Vashon Center for the Arts

Photographic Series

Urban Journal, 2008-current.

Border Towns, 2014-current.

Touch of Humanity (Shifting Ground), 2009 - current .

Foreclosed, 2012, published.

Time Off, 2009 - 2015.

Looking Glass, 2007-2010.

Skylight of Man, 2008-2010, exhibited.

Watering Holes, 2003-2008, completed, exhibited.

Portraits: general, Musicians, Homeless, 2000-current, exhibited.