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Introduction to Robert Maniscalco Gallery Art
Artist Statement
I believe artists are our conscience, the teachers of society. The best artists can go deep within themselves to bring up the treasures, usually in the form of questions, which form a blueprint for a meaningful creative life. As an professional creative, I am always looking for ways to bring meaning and clarity into the world, to use my God given talent to inquire and to edify. Simply put, I love putting ideas and things together in ways that please and make sense to me. So, I share my journey, finding and expressing insight any way I can, to whoever is willing to engage in our shared time together on this planet, interconnected on our human journey. I do this through painting, writing, acting/directing, music/composing and teaching.
My goal as a visual artist, a painter, is to explore the full range of my medium, which is light. I have developed several bodies of work exploring a variety of structures and subjects, but the poetry of light on form keeps finding its way into my work. Light is the force which reveals the subtleties of nature, particularly the human condition, uncovering what it means to be human in our journey toward the light. This often-dramatic journey toward the light is a theme which runs through all my work, both literally and figuratively. We are all on a journey of survival and wonder. Together, we find ways to make the best of what we are given. Often there is struggle, heartbreak, loss. But there is always a new dawn that awaits us if we can hold on till then.
With this in mind, I plow the fields of portraiture, landscape and still life, surrealism, whatever moves me. What I keep coming back to is the many creative ways we find to overcome and grow from our shared journey through adversity into the light. For instance, I am continuing a series of paintings called The Quench Project begun during my vision trip to Haiti in November 2014, focused on desire and the ways we quench it. Also, I am continuing my Faces of the Lowcountry series of paintings, which is an exploration of the joy and tenacity of the Gullah people as they continue to define and celebrate their identity, a cultural symbol of survival and abundant hope for all people. I also have been into an Iconic Charleston Series, which is all about what makes my home of Charleston so magical for me. Another body of work, consisting of highly chromatic figurative renderings, called Chromo Sapient, is intended to push the envelope of color, while maintaining the chiaroscuro – the illusion of light on form. Expressive realism may be my dharma but I have also recently begun to explore the possibilities of narrative and poetry using color and light to transport the viewer of my work into other dimensions of reality. I am also the doppelganger of NETI, who is that he is not.
I also consider my work as a commission portrait artist a big part of my artistic journey. In fact, I am probably best known for my portraits. Together with my non commission portrait work, my journey can be summed up with an honest curiosity and respect for what makes nature and people tick. That’s what feeds my soul. I invite you to read my Bio for more about my story and the forces that drive my creative engine.
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Here's a little #nude #painting #sketch I reworked a little. Come see more at the #psoae in Marian Square in #beautiful #Charleston #SC #artist #figurepainting ... See MoreSee Less
Seated Nude Abstract - Maniscalco Gallery
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From a live model session back at the Maniscalco Gallery. How I enjoyed the many wonderful figure sessions. This one was simple and quick.Here's the Maniscalco version of the iconic Reggae master. See this and a ton of new work at this year's Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Come see me and about 75 artists at the PSOAE in Marion Square. My encampment is on the corner of Meeting and Calhoun. ... See MoreSee Less
Bob Marely - Maniscalco Gallery
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A bounty hunter is hot on the trail of his prey. He is part of a dark recesses of our history, when slaves who led rebellions were hunted like animals.Another new #artwork. A nice big, #friendly #mushrooms #painting. Here in #beautiful #charleston. Come meet him (and me) in person at the #psoae in Marian Square, opening May 24, running through June 11.
#artcollectors #artistsofinstagram #artist #artistsoninstagram #paintingoftheday #magicmushrooms ... See MoreSee Less
Shrooms - Maniscalco Gallery
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Part of a continuing Micro series, here we have a fairly large canvas with an extreme close up view of a pair of beautiful, fleeting mushrooms.Yet another #painting from the set of "Emanuel," depicting the history around the #MotherEmanuel AME #church in #Charleston. ... See MoreSee Less
Bounty Hunter - Maniscalco Gallery
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A bounty hunter is hot on the trail of his prey. He is part of a dark recesses of our history, when slaves who led rebellions were hunted like animals.Another new painting to be unveiled at the PSOAE from May 24- June 10. Getting ready. ... See MoreSee Less
Little Boy Blue - Maniscalco Gallery
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A beautiful little boy with long blonde hair, so cute you could cry. A dear friend's grandchild, captures the innocence of childhood.This little painting depicts a Gullah dancer looking on as her creative family creates magic. Can you see what she is seeing?
#gullah #gullahgeeche #charlestonartist #dancers #lowcountry #artcollectors #spoleto #newwork #artist #painter #artistsoninstagram #charleston #creative ... See MoreSee Less
Gullah Dancer - Maniscalco Gallery
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A Gullah Geechee woman looks on as her fellow performers express their culture. She is admiring them, the product of her teaching and years of experience.