Karen Shapiro was born in 1947 and was raised in Arizona where she trained as an artist. She once painted cartoon cells at Hanna Barbera and also did package design. Using the American raku firing technique, Shapiro takes everyday objects based on commercial products or domestic items dating from the 1930s to the present time, supersizes them and presents them to her collectors, evoking fond memories. “The work speaks for itself. It is all larger than life and easily understandable. My mission is to make work which adds a bit of whimsy and smiles to my customers’ lives while making a living for myself.”