Shapiro's 15 years of experience as a graphic designer inform his approach to each piece. By bringing a digital mindset to the natural material of clay, Shapiro's pieces have a playful and surprising energy that combines the new and the old.

While not the central focus of his work, Shapiro's fascination with automotive design and car culture seeps into his aesthetic. Elements of tubes, chrome, and gloss connect his fantastical pieces to reality.

Daniel's journey as an artist passes through a small town in Missouri where he grew up, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles where he worked as a graphic designer. Each place he's lived in has shaped his design language, which can be felt in his work.

Daniel first came into contact with ceramics in 2017 when he took a class at a neighborhood pottery studio in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. Building on the class's basic lessons, Daniel set up a studio in his Los Angeles home and began the journey of building a body of work. Once the pandemic hit, the work accelerated.

In 2021, Shapiro relocated back to Missouri to be closer to family and expand his studio operations.

In 2023, Shapiro was awarded The Editors Award for Lighting at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York.

Daniel currently works out of his St. Louis-based studio. His body of work encompasses lighting, tables, objects, and unexpected combinations.