Laura Shape’s practice blurs boundaries between aesthetics and action. Working with skins once seen only as threats, she transforms them into textured canvases alive with color. Her approach challenges assumptions about beauty, responsibility, and ownership—inviting viewers to see art not only as expression, but as a force for renewal. We sat down with Laura to talk the journey, the inspiration, and the good.
Roots in creativity: “My path hasn’t been linear. I grew up in a small Ohio town with two makers in the house. My dad was an engineer and my mom an artist. Problemsolving and creativity have always been part of my DNA.”
The breakthrough moment: “That question— why am I using this?—pushed me to look for something better. That’s when I discovered invasive species leather. Burmese pythons are causing terrible destruction in the Florida Everglades, and they need to be removed in numbers far beyond what current funding can cover.”
Ethics into action: “When I learned that Burmese pythons had wiped out around 85% of small native mammals in the Everglades, I realized art could play a new role: helping create demand for their removal.”
Beauty with a purpose: “These are ecological threats on a massive scale. But instead of making dark, despairing work about them, I chose to transform them into something vibrant and compelling, pieces that invite curiosity. When someone says, ‘That’s beautiful, what is it?’ I have the chance to share the story.”
The people behind it: “The relationships are everything. I get my python leather directly from Amy Siewe, who’s become quite famous as a python huntress. She’s out there doing the incredibly difficult work of removing these predators from the Everglades, skinning them herself, and sending them to a tannery.”
The power of pretty: “Beauty is what draws people in. If the work were heavy or despairing, it would just add to the sense of helplessness people already feel around environmental issues. Instead, I create work that is vibrant and engaging. Once someone is captivated, they naturally want to know more.”
Looking ahead: “Right now, I’m working on a large-scale carp series called Beach House. It’s inspired by the waters of Lake Erie, not far from where I grew up, since invasive carp are threatening the Great Lakes.”
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