Born in New York during a time when societal norms favored formula over breastfeeding and canned vegetables were the standard, Adam Shaw grew up in a home where the TV was always on. Yet, the vibrant energy of New York City's art scene captivated him, and he spent hours in museums, mesmerized by the bold works of Abstract Expressionist painters, unaware that art would eventually become his life's work.

With a deep fascination for art, poetry, literature, philosophy, language, and spirituality, Adam graduated Summa Cum Laude from college, embracing both intellectual pursuits and rebellious freedoms. His travels led him to Italy, where he studied art history and culture. In the 1980s, after moving to San Francisco, he transitioned from academia as a poet to a career in medicine, eventually establishing a private practice, which he later walked away from to pursue his true calling as a painter.

Since his first solo exhibition in 1997, Adam has shown his work in galleries, regional museums, and alternative spaces across the U.S. and internationally. His paintings are part of numerous private, public, and corporate collections worldwide, and have been featured in a variety of publications and monographs, reflecting his diverse influences and complex journey.