Local Couple Builds a Legacy of Creativity & Community
In 1975, Larry Shapin went on a date with a young lady who suggested they go to an art show. At the time, he wasn’t really sure what he was getting into, however, that evening launched a lifelong passion for art, artists and a future where local artists were recognized and appreciated for what they brought to Louisville.
“I saw a piece that I really liked at the show. It was $500, and I didn’t have $20 to spend on art at the time, but after thinking about it for a week or so, I called the artist,” Shapin says. “We became friends, and I ended up paying her $20 every month for years to purchase that piece. She became one of the most famous artists in Kentucky – Mary Anne Currier.”
Shapin says he’s tried all different mediums of art but sees himself as a collector more than an artist. Still, he had found his passion, and every few months, he continued to add to his collection. When he met artist Ladonna Nicolas and brought her to his home, she immediately recognized the bronze sculpture he had purchased nearly 10 years prior.
Nicolas was the model for the piece.
The two quickly became the go-to for local artists. They were calling Shapin and Nicolas to visit their studio in hopes there would be a piece they’d want to add to their collection.
“I bought this house in 1975, and it was 3,000 square feet,” Shapin says. “Since then, I’ve added on nine times, and it’s now 20,000 square feet with more than 1,400 works of art displayed in the house.”
Not only is their home full of unique artwork and their own personal artistic style, but there is also a two-story art gallery built on from the main house with large windows for natural light. Another large, open addition to the home features a bar, ping-pong table, pool table and fireplace, making the space perfect for hosting large community groups.
When it comes to collecting artwork, they don’t discriminate. Shapin says they have artwork from artists as young as 3 years old to 90 years old. Most are from contemporary (living) artists, but a few are deceased, such as Harvey Joiner and Pablo Picasso. Most are artists who have yet to hit their prime, however, many of the works in Shapin and Nicolas’ home are consistently increasing in value.
“It’s neat to have known them when they first started out and to see how they progressed,” Shapin says “There’s a number of artists we’ve worked with over the years, and now, they are teaching students in schools.”
Artwork is often subjective. How do they determine “good” work for their collection?
Shapin says for starters, they almost always come with a good story.
“Good art causes you to think,” he says. “These are not landscapes or portraits. Some might even call them weird. It causes you to think, and it’s interesting, and it moves you in some way.”
It was important to Shapin and Nicolas that the artwork was displayed and it was enjoyed by not only them but by the community too. Shapin says most museums keep 97% of their inventory in storage and are only rarely shown.
At Shapin and Nicolas’ home, they want the work to be seen.
“We like to live with the art,” Nicolas says. “We like having groups over because so many people don’t know it’s back here.”
The pair get phone calls from local artists nearly every day of the week. They spend a day or two per week on what they call an “artist adventure,” seeking out the next budding artist and unique work they’re producing.
“We enjoy going to studio visits and inviting friends to come with us, and we like to partner with our local art galleries and the schools,” Nicolas adds.
In 2020, Shapin and Nicolas formed a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, the Shapin-Nicolas Art Project (S.N.A.P.) Foundation.
They want to be sure their life’s work is protected and the artists continue to receive support.
“We don’t have children, and we wanted to be able to keep these 12 acres of property, the house and the galleries the same so the community was able to enjoy it. We want this experience to be here for future generations,” Nicolas says. “The foundation was also created to help local artists. We want to give them a platform to showcase their work.”
As the nonprofit develops, Shapin and Nicolas says they intend to host art shows, fundraisers and events such as Cocktails and Conversations to bring the community and artists together.
“Most artists are poor promoters. They are shy about their work and don’t know the value of their work,” Shapin says. “We have more than 800 different Louisville artists in this house, and other than 20 or so, the rest all have second jobs to make ends meet. They need support. We have a guest house on the property and have talked about an artist-in-residence program and raising funds for an artist development grant. It’s a work in progress.”
Shapin and Nicolas are also supportive of many different art forms: hosting events for the local orchestra or theatre production and plan to open their art galleries to the public in the future.
“We’re open to the public by appointment right now,” Nicolas says. “We often have groups of people come in, but hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to offer public hours.”
Visit shapinnicolasartproject.com for more information.
