His father was David Shapinsky (born circa 1896), a "cutter" in the garment trades. His mother Alice Wolfe Shapinsky (born circa 1902) was very young when they met in the subway, according to some family stories. Unfortunately, the family endured a bitter divorce, and afterwards his mother married Alex Matos, originally from Puerto Rico.
Neither his mother nor his stepfather supported the young Harold"s aspirations.
Both David and Alice were born in eastern Europe and came to the United States in the early part of the century. They had four sons; Aaron (December 8, 1919 – March 1984), Murray (d February 1970), Harold, and Buck. Young Harold was a gifted artist.
He had several breakdowns along the way.
In one instance, he was not eating properly and had no money, became sick and was thrown out of his apartment. His paintings were thrown into the street.
In 1985, an Indian professor of English, Akumal Ramachander, met Harold"s son in Chicago purely by circumstance. The son, David, uncharacteristically showed Akumal slides of Harold"s work.
Ramachander decided to promote the artist claiming that exposing Shapinsky to the world stage was part of his personal destiny.
He contacted Lawrence Weschler, a writer at The New Yorker, and helped organize Shapinsky"s first one-man show, at London"s Mayor Gallery. As a result Shapinsky became a "revived artist" as an abstract impressionist. He spent the next 15 years in relative comfort from some resulting sales.
To date, Shapinsky"s works have garnered international renown.
Some reside at the Tate, presented anonymously by the Mayor Gallery. Shapinsky died at the age of 78 on January 31, 2004.
Both are buried together at the Garden of Remembrance Cemetery in Maryland.
