DESIGNING WOMAN: ArtWRKD founder Ashara Shapiro is shown in one of her gallery spaces in Newtown, Pa.
By Thomas Kelly
Ashara Shapiro is an artist, designer, gallerist, teacher, and mentor. Her wearable art along with other artists’ work comes to life at ArtWRKD, two gallery spaces next to each other on a busy block of stores and restaurants in Newtown, Pa. The art showrooms provide a home base for a myriad of different events and support of both emerging and established artists.
When and where did you begin in the arts?
I began in the performing arts at a very young age. I was in the Young Conservatory at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco from age 8 to 12 and performed in several off-Broadway productions. It was an early lesson in stamina and prioritizing time, as we had 36 performances per play and I had to balance that with school — something that shaped my discipline very early on. I was the youngest actress on stage at the time and remember so fondly the world of theater. I would sit in the hairdresser’s room and talk with the actors as they were getting ready for that evening’s performance. There was something so intimate about that space. It was an unbelievable education in the vast differences and similarities in humankind. Hearing their stories, their paths, their vulnerabilities — it stayed with me.
Which media do you work in and how would you categorize your work?
Currently, I work in wearable art, utilizing metal and leather primarily, though the material always shifts depending on the vision. I let the piece tell me what it needs. My focus now is really on wearable expression — pushing the envelope of what that means. How can I tell a story visually and use the human form to assist in that storytelling? It becomes almost like embodying a character. The body is not just wearing the piece — it becomes part of the narrative.
Who are some of your early inspirations or influences?
I loved the metallics of Klimt, the softness and folds of early marble sculpture, this idea that hard materials can bend to an artist’s will. That tension really stayed with me, and it’s a big reason why I love working with metal.
I was also influenced early on by people who did not conform — the boldness that took. There was something so powerful in that. Early cabaret, the follies, Madonna, Grace Jones, Bowie, Frida … all of that unapologetic presence and identity made a huge impression on me.
What brought about the gallery spaces in Newtown, Pa.?
I wanted to create a space that fostered growth in a real, tangible way. I love mentoring — I have a performing arts teaching background — and I’ve always been drawn to the intimacy of safe spaces where people can truly explore who they are. Providing the opportunity for artists to express themselves in their truest sense and then actually embody that in their work. That’s the core of it. It connects deeply to my love of method acting, of uncovering what is underneath, and also psychology — how we think, how we process, how that becomes expression. To me, that is the gift: sharing who we really are, in our entirety. I truly believe that kind of honesty and vulnerability is what connects us and, in many ways, what will save us as a human race. I wanted to build a space where both artists and patrons could experience that.
How difficult is balancing your time between making your own work and promoting other artists?
It used to feel much more difficult, especially in the beginning when everything felt urgent all the time. But now, in my fourth year of having the gallery spaces, I’ve come to understand that there really is time for everything. Being present and letting the space I am in — both physically and mentally — dictate the work of the day has become the most organic way to grow. Some days are for creating, some are for supporting, some are for building. I no longer see it as one suffering for the other. It’s all interconnected. It’s all part of the larger vision I’m building.
What struggles do you face regarding your art and gallery?
Being an entrepreneur is a daily practice in resilience. It is really hard work, constant decision-making, finding balance, navigating fiscal limitations, always selling the dream, and trying to stay relevant in a very noisy world. The amount of stamina and energy needed is significant. There are moments where I feel drained, where I question how long that level of output can be sustained. But almost without fail, when I hit that point, something shifts—an opportunity, a connection, a moment of clarity. It feels like the universe stepping in and saying, keep going.
How has Newtown embraced the gallery and related events?
I love Newtown. I moved around a lot as a kid and always found planting roots to be a challenge. Newtown is really the first place where I feel firmly planted. That feeling of grounding took some getting used to, but it’s been incredibly meaningful. The community has been very welcoming. It did take conversations — explaining what I’m doing, my mission, my vision — but once that connection was made, I was embraced very openly.
How do you find the artists you exhibit?
It’s a combination of my inner circle, word of mouth, and intuition. Sometimes I actively seek out an outlier artist, someone unexpected, who fills a very specific need in the overall experience I’m trying to create. Those discoveries are always exciting. At this point, ArtWRKD has a very clear identity, so artists often recognize if their work aligns and reach out on their own. That organic connection is something I really value.
How has contemporary work been received in a traditionally Impressionist area?
It has definitely taken time. There’s been a learning curve, both for me and for the community. But what I’ve found is that the overall response becomes joy — people experiencing something new and different. There’s something powerful about not having to go into the city to access this kind of work, it’s here, in their own backyard. It feels fresh, accessible, and exciting. There can be hesitation at first, but once people connect, especially when they meet the artist and have that direct access — it transforms the experience. That connection is really at the heart of ArtWRKD.
How do the SPEAKeasy events operate?
The SPEAKeasy events were the brainchild of myself and Joe Montone, a dear friend and founder of the nonprofit Stage United. I wanted to return to performance in some way, reconnect with those roots, and he was already deeply involved in supporting local singer-songwriters. In many ways, he is the musical counterpart to what I do in the visual arts, so the collaboration felt very natural. Those evenings have become some of my absolute favorites in the gallery. There is something so intimate and electric about them — they really do feel magical every time.
Is your artist-in-residence program prospering?
Yes, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of. It began as more of a workspace mentoring program, but my vision was always to grow it into a fully funded residency.
2026 will be our second year, and we already have a waitlist, which is amazing. The program supports very local emerging artists who need time and space to develop a body of work, sometimes their first full solo exhibition, which is then shown at the end of the two-month residency. It is funded by The Newtown Music Arts and Culture Donor Advised Fund through the Newtown Community Foundation. They have been a dream to work with, and their belief in this program has made such a difference.
What is a dream project of yours?
I have been developing, in my mind, an immersive experience for several years now, that explores the balance between the head and the heart, our internal world, and how society influences that balance. It feels layered and complex and deeply human. I think it may become my magnum opus when the time is right.
What’s on the horizon?
We just wrapped an incubated project in collaboration with Vasiliki Katsarou called The Mina Loy Project: “DON’T PUT ME IN A BOX.” We generated writing over several weekends and completed a film shoot. This has been her vision for many years, so it was truly an honor to support her in bringing it to life. I’m very much looking forward to the screening.
I also have a group show coming up called Ideology of Revolution, featuring many artists I haven’t worked with before. The submissions have been incredible, and I’m really excited about the overall experience for patrons. It will be on view in July. While I can’t share too much yet, there is an extraordinary collaboration in the works, a sculptural wearable art fashion show that is going to be completely mind-blowing.
ArtWRKD is at 126-128 South State Street in Newtown, Pa. To learn more, visit Artwrkd.com, go to instagram.com/art.wrkd, email artcurator@artwrkd.com, or call (646) 924.7394.