Ann Leda Shapiro

Ann Leda Shapiro (b. 1946, New York City) is an American artist whose career spans over five decades and is marked by a consistent commitment to feminist critique and experimental figuration. After studying at the San Francisco Art Institute and the University of California, she gained early visibility with her 1973 solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The show became a flashpoint in debates around censorship and representation, when several works addressing female sexuality were removed before opening—sparking controversy that ultimately contributed to the institutional reception of feminist art in the United States. Throughout the 1980s, Shapiro remained active in activist circles, including as a member of the Guerrilla Girls. Her practice, which includes drawing, watercolor, and mixed media, reflects a sustained engagement with the body as both subject and site of resistance. In parallel with her artistic work, she has practiced acupuncture since the early 1990s, a discipline that has informed her sensitivity to form, gesture, and internal systems. Her work has been collected by institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Seattle Art Museum, and the Frye Art Museum. In recent years, her practice has received renewed attention through exhibitions at MoMA, Tai Kwun (Hong Kong), François Ghebaly Gallery (Los Angeles and New York), and Axel Vervoordt Gallery (Antwerp). Shapiro has received fellowships and awards from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the McMillen Foundation, and Artist Trust. She currently lives and works on Vashon Island, Washington.