“Materialize: Visualizing Climate Change”
Belger Arts
(2025)

In Materialize: Visualizing Climate Change, Lauren Shapiro presents a pair of ceramic light works that bridge marine ecology, architectural form, and classical craft traditions. Drawing from extensive fieldwork on land and underwater, Shapiro’s sculptures translate the structures of coral reefs and geological formations into tactile, luminous objects that function as both artworks and environmental archives.

The pastel-hued spirals and crystalline protrusions of the works echo the slow growth patterns of coral ecosystems, while its refined ceramic techniques reference historical decorative forms. This tension—between fragility and durability, ornament and urgency—underscores Shapiro’s broader inquiry into how beauty can become a conduit for environmental awareness. Rather than illustrating climate change directly, her work invites sustained looking and reflection, proposing care and attention as acts of stewardship.

Shapiro’s practice is rooted in research and collaboration with scientists, often incorporating digital tools such as photogrammetry to document and archive vulnerable marine environments. These digital records inform her sculptural language, allowing her to merge technology with hand-built ceramic processes. Across her work, Shapiro imagines futures in which ecosystems are not only preserved, but actively cared for, positioning art as a space for connection, learning, and collective responsibility.