Enjoying the Freedom from Scrutiny with Leanne Shapton

June 16, 2021

At the Creative Independent, Leanne Shapton looks back on her work, which ranges from novels to illustrated books, and reflects on the freedom that allows her to create. “I just really think a lot of my work slips between the cracks,” Shapton says. “I get a little pay here and there, but I feel lucky that it doesn’t have to stand up against something else, you know? I risk obscurity, I risk being completely ignored, but it gives me some freedom to not have scrutiny.”

is a writer and illustrator. She is the author of two illustrated books, Last Night's Reading (Penguin Books, 2015) and Sanpaku (Archaia 2018).