By DORIS RUBENSTEIN
Spring is a cause for celebration. The Christians have Easter. We have Passover. But for local artist Natalie Fine Shapiro, this spring is an even greater reason to rejoice: Her show of watercolor paintings is featured in an eye-popping display of 15 spring images in a show now at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska and will continue through May 19. She shares the exhibit, Chromatic Brilliance, with photographer Anne Groton.
Being the featured artist in such a prestigious venue is a powerful statement affirming the quality of her work. How did Fine Shapiro manage this feat?
Natalie Fine Shapiro is a regular in juried art fairs around town: Edina, Stone Arch Bridge, Wayzata, Centennial Lakes, among others. It was at her booth at the Minnehaha Art Fair last year that she was approached by one of the curators of the Arboretum’s Café Gallery about showing her work there. In other words, they came to her. And although Natalie used to be represented by the Everette & Charlie Art Gallery, she’s learned how powerful she can be by representing herself.
Natalie’s focus on watercolor paintings of flowers and other plants sort of comes to her genetically: Her maternal grandfather, Arkie Fine, owned Radio City Florist in downtown Minneapolis for many years. Natalie’s watercolors are unusual for the medium for the deep, saturated colors she creates contrast with the more common pastel tones of most watercolor paintings.
How does she do it? Technique: She creates bright and saturated colors by painting multiple layers and only slightly diluting her paints.
Another focus of her art, Jewish themes and ketubot (marriage contracts), comes from her paternal grandfather, Chicago-area Rabbi Mark Shapiro. She’s visited Israel twice: first, on a family tour at age 29, led by her Rabbi Mark; then, a Birthright trip three years later. She recalled, “It was amazing! One of my favorite places is Safed — it feels like a magical, creative haven. I saw beautiful art by Israeli artists and the landscapes of that area were inspirational. I could feel the Jewish connection to the land, and it inspires my work.”
Natalie is a real “millennial” artist. She experimented with many different kinds of artistic expression, starting with her experience at Perpich Arts High School, and, for 15 years, traveled with the hip-hop group More Than Lights, cutting three albums with them.
But the visual arts gene, inherited from her graphic artist mother, Rachel Fine, started expressing itself, and she discovered watercolor painting online. Her mother and late father, Steve Shapiro, met at Temple Israel; Natalie started her Jewish studies at Shir Tikvah but became a Bat Mitzva at her parents’ chavura (friends’ group), with her dad tutoring her for her Torah portion. Much of the work she does for ketuba clients is done over Zoom.
“I just finished a ketuba for a Wisconsin couple, and I’ll do one for people in Connecticut this summer,” she said. “I do the painting and the text is provided by a printer. It saves time and money.”
Calligraphy is a skill she’s still working on. Natalie has her clients visit her website and indicate what style they want. “A couple I’ve worked with like bicycling, so I painted a couple of bikes amidst some rocks and trees.”
Natalie’s studio is in her home in St. Louis Park, where she lives with her husband DJ Hess and their newest “work of art,” baby boy Miles, who came into the world last November.
It’s early April, so celebrate at the Arboretum when you get the chance to see this show. In the meantime, Natalie’s work can be seen on her website: nataliefineshapiro.com.
(American Jewish World, April 2025)
