Larisa Shapiro

Art and Art History teacher

Larisa Shapiro graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Human Development. Her undergraduate work concentrated on the study of the stages of child development; including behavioral, cognitive, social and personality development. She also holds an MS in Design Studies from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her graduate work focused on art of Italian Renaissance and the history of Russian art before and during the reign of Catherine the Great.

Most of her professional experience involved working with families and children. Her recent positions included Director of Education at a school in Wisconsin, and Director of Resettlement at the Jewish Family Service in Michigan. Larisa also draws and paints. Her favorite subjects are people or animals (portraits) and ornamental design/art. One of her long-term endeavors was to paint masks made of papier-mache using them as canvas to showcase ornamental designs from different countries. Her latest undertaking is to decorate her own home with fresco-like ornamental design.

Her love of art has drawn her to Italy and many other European countries. She lived in Rome and enjoyed many extensive stays all over Europe, which allowed her an ample time to see, learn, and experience the vast treasures of art and architecture. These experiences together with the knowledge of how children learn helped shaped her teaching technique. In teaching art history she aspires to make use of every available visual aid from books, prints, and artifacts, to power point presentations and movies. She strives to leave the children with knowledge of many topics through a visual recollection. She believes that ultimately it is the visual experiences that will help to reinforce the stories in the minds of the children.

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