The Manhattan apartment that belonged to renowned sculptor Joel Shapiro and his painter wife Ellen Phelan has been listed for $4.75 million, just months after Shapiro's death at age 83. The celebrated artist, known for his angular, gravity-defying sculptural figures that became icons of modern art, spent decades exploring form, balance, and spatial relationships through his work. Eileen Angelo and Max Collins of Sotheby's International Realty are handling the exclusive listing for this remarkable artist's residence.
Located in a historic 1907 building on East 67th Street in Manhattan's prestigious Lenox Hill neighborhood, the duplex apartment reflects the sophisticated artistic sensibilities of its former owners. The couple purchased the property in the early 2000s and undertook an extensive renovation that transformed the space from top to bottom. Their thoughtful redesign, completed in the 1990s but featuring timeless elements, introduced elegant beveled glass casement doors, brass hardware throughout, and a dramatic sweeping staircase that appears almost sculptural in nature, reminiscent of Shapiro's own three-dimensional works.
The apartment's most striking feature is a towering 20-foot expanse of leaded glass that floods the double-height great room with natural light and adds distinctive architectural character to the space. The main floor also includes a south-facing library complete with a fireplace, a dedicated home office for the artists' professional needs, and a corner guest bedroom with its own private bathroom. The layout was carefully designed to accommodate both the couple's artistic practices and their daily living requirements.
The entire second floor has been converted into an impressive primary suite that spans the full width of the apartment. This luxurious master bedroom area features a unique mezzanine that overlooks the main living room below, creating an open yet private feel. The suite includes a spacious bedroom with its own fireplace, a separate sitting and dressing room, two large walk-in closets, a substantial bathroom, and even a roomy laundry area for convenience.
Shapiro, who was born in Queens in 1941, maintained deep roots in New York City throughout his distinguished career, keeping a working studio in Long Island City even as his sculptures gained international recognition and were displayed in museums and public spaces worldwide. His largest public work stands prominently outside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., serving as a powerful testament to his artistic legacy. Phelan, an accomplished painter in her own right, frequently explored themes of domesticity and sense of place in her artwork, which has been acquired by prestigious institutions including the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum.
The building itself has a rich cultural history and has long served as a haven for creative individuals. The Italian Renaissance-style structure was designed by architect Charles A. Platt during his time with the firm Rossiter and Wright, and over the decades it has housed an impressive roster of residents ranging from a Rockefeller family heir to legendary design duo Massimo and Lella Vignelli, who created New York City's iconic subway map design. For Shapiro and Phelan, the location offered the perfect combination of proximity to the city's vibrant cultural center and a peaceful, light-filled retreat high above the urban bustle.
The couple's artistic life extended beyond their Manhattan residence to include a spectacular lakeside estate in Westport, New York. This Prairie-style property, known as Kenjockety, sits majestically on the shores of Lake Champlain and served as their countryside refuge from city life. The 1910 home, which they carefully restored into a serene, art-filled sanctuary, features an impressive 1,400 feet of waterfront and gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Dan Kiley. This secondary property is also currently available for purchase, initially listed this summer for $5.49 million and now offered at $4.8 million, providing potential buyers with the opportunity to acquire both pieces of the artists' carefully curated lifestyle.
