Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

About Laura Shape

Laura Shape is an award-winning contemporary artist whose innovative artworks have gained international attention for sparking conversations around beauty, advocacy, and happiness. As a fine artist, she uses hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces to champion positive global impacts on sustainability and mental health. This artistic entrepreneur's current work focuses on a serious environmental issue by transforming invasive animal species into beautiful art, protecting native ecosystems and reviving global biodiversity.

The Artist's Journey

Laura Shape's inquisitive nature and imagination allow her to create fine art with a message and an impact. "I liked working with exotic leathers because of their beautiful textures and patterns, but I wanted to find ethically sourced materials. That's when I learned about the invasive species problem, particularly invasive lionfish and carp. After researching, I found a company that makes leather from these and other invasive species to help solve this problem. And I now use them in my art." Laura is now considered the world's first invasive animal species artist.

The Midwest-raised child of two artists, Laura inherited her love of artistic expression and an intrinsic need to innovate. She turned down an early acceptance into Carnegie Mellon to pursue graphic design at Rochester Institute of Technology, which was at the forefront of integrating computers into its design curriculum. Shortly afterward, she embarked on a highly successful two-decade career in Los Angeles, primarily with internet startups, honing her passion for transforming concepts into reality.

Artistic Evolution

Laura began expanding her artistic ambitions after moving to Colorado in 2015. Drawing on her experience with a wide range of art-making techniques, including painting and sculpture, she began building her own business with a mission to make a positive impact through art. "My current painting and sculpture is mostly abstract explorations of color and texture. At first glance, they are simply beautiful, but when the viewer discovers they are made with invasive carp that are harming the Mississippi River, for instance, the pieces take on more significance. They become symbols of protecting this vitally important ecosystem."

Laura's work has been featured in numerous publications, is in private collections around the world, and has even received an award from a Fellow of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. With the overwhelmingly positive response to her latest work, Laura continues to push the boundaries of what art can accomplish. Her lifelong goal is to constantly invent new ways to support important causes, inspire happiness, and create beauty. And she encourages other artists to do the same. "My advice is to find what gives you joy and keep doing it. Then share that joy with the world to inspire others. We need it so badly."

Laura Shape continues to draw inspiration from the natural world, creating contemporary art that not only captivates the eye but also promotes environmental awareness. Her unique approach to using invasive species in her work sets her apart from other artists and sculptors, making her a true innovator in the world of fine art.

See available artwork

 

Recent Awards

2023 - Juror’s Award winner. (Juror: Anna Davis, Fellow at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center ), "Breaking Ground: Art about the Earth"

2022 - Special Recognition for the 3 Dimensional Category (Jurors: Chris and Valerie Hoffman, gallery owners), "Nature"

See more Awards & Exhibitions

 

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Art and Process

About the Invasive Species

Environmental Impact

Purchasing and Viewing the Art