CV RESUME OF ROBERT MANISCALCO
Robert’s Mission
As an “art spirit” Robert seeks to expand and share his knowledge with others through a meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences which express our common humanity, connecting clients to the people who matter most. He does this through his fine art and portraiture, sharing his knowledge as a teacher, presenting instructional DVDs, classes and workshops, lectures and demonstrations and through his writing. His most book entitled, The Power of Positive Painting© is an Amazon Best Seller. As host of the acclaimed TV program, “Artbeat,” which aired for two seasons (2003-2005) on PBS in Detroit, his goal was to make the visual arts more accessible to a wider audience. Robert is also an accomplished actor, director and musician, videographer, blogger, finding connections between a variety of artistic disciplines.
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE MANISCALCO GALLERY 1997-2005
Responsibilities included Curating of Exhibitions, Marketing/Research, Graphic Design, Communications/Sales, Artist Management, Art Dealer, Art Consulting/Interior Design, Training, Events Planning/Execution, Managing a Custom Framing Business, Community Outreach, Rental of gallery space, Human Resources, Budget/Finance, Sales training. Presenting workshops, demonstrations, classes, Managing Guest Instructors.
Accomplishments:
The Maniscalco Gallery was founded in 1997 by Robert Maniscalco as an exhibition space and contemporary art center representing talented local and international artists, both established and emerging. The MG presented six major exhibitions each year and had become a major gallery venue in Detroit’s re-emerging art scene until the brick and mortar operations closed in 2005. The Maniscalco Gallery was an opportunity for community outreach and bring together the art of fine portraiture in the context of a contemporary art gallery. The Maniscalco Gallery hosted critically acclaimed exhibitions and special events like Salons, presenting poetry, song, dance, story telling, monologues, discussion and performance art in context with the visual arts. Generated extensive media coverage and attention. The MG rose to prominence quickly, with as many as 400 people attending our events. Other special arts events were periodically presented at the MG, such as Wine Tastings, Vernissages, Salons, Poetry/Performance and painting parties. The Maniscalco Gallery also presented extensive Community Outreach Programming, including Fresh Art Festivals, Wine and Art tastings, Charity Auctions as well as special touring exhibits in non-traditional venues such as night clubs, restaurants, parks and private clubs. The Detroit Tasetefest (New Center Area), the Detroit Yacht Club, the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club and the Roostertail are examples of past outreach venues in which the Maniscalco presented exhibitions and programs.
The Maniscalco Gallery Online continues to offer world class portraiture, fine art, art instruction, painting parties, career coaching, photography and videography services, fine art consulting, curating, art juroring, special events coordinator – see speakers bureau.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 “Identity and Self” Park Street Gallery, North Charleston, SC
2023- “Art for Life” Exhibition at Beaumont Hospitals MI
2022 “Power of Positive Painting” Exhibition at VAF in Canton MI
2022 “Quench” at Grosse Pointe Art Center GP War Memorial
2018-20 Charleston Southern University – Featuring TQP
2018-20 Uncork Charleston Wine Bar & Gallery, Charleston, SC – TQP
2016 Coastal Community Foundation Gallery, Charleston, SC – TQP
2016 Kairos Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, SC – TQP
2015 North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC – TQP
2014 Social Wine Bar, Charleston, SC – NETI
2013 The 827 Gallery, Charleston, SC – NETI
2003-4 Look Galleries – Marshall Fields – 27 works formed a touring exhibition of four Detroit area Look Galleries
2002 Maniscalco Gallery, Grosse Pointe, MI “Italia” series
1999 Maniscalco Gallery, Detroit, MI “Chromo Sapien” series of pastel on velvet
1998 Park Street Gallery, Windsor, Ontario “mini figures in oil”
1997 Lakeview Gallery, New Orleans, LA “Figures and Landscapes”
1995 K&K Design Gallery, New Orleans, LA – “Art for Art’s Sake”
1994 Limner Gallery in Soho, New York City – “Portraits and Departures”
1988 National Bank of Detroit Headquarters, Detroit, MI
1987 Grosse Pointe War Memorial, MI
1986 Detroit Yacht Club, MI
1986, 83 Scarab Club of Detroit, MI – “Faces of China”
1984 Art and Ambience, Novi, MI
1983 Henry Ford Estate, Grosse Pointe, MI
1983 Collector’s Art Gallery, Rochester, MI
1982 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS AND AWARDS:
2026 Atlanta Portrait Society Open “Gratitude”
2026 ViewPoint 58 National Juried Art Show for “Reflections on Nothingness”
2026 “Best in Show” for “Reflections on Nothingness”Lowcountry Fine Art Showcase – Santee Canal for
2025 “Best in Show” for “See the Light” – Lowcountry Fine Art Showcase – Santee Canal for
2026 “First Place in Oils” for “Reflections on Nothingness” North Charleston Art Festival
2022-24 Hon. Mention 2024 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Exhibition, Charleston –
2023-4 Spartanburg Artist Collective Annual, for Light and Firefly
2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America, for Nonno
2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America, for Nonno
2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Small Works, for Gratitude
2023 First Place Signiture Show Charleston Artist Guild in CHARLESTON, SC, for The Long Shoreman
2023 First Place in Oil and Drawing, Berkley Art Guild Annual, Berkley County, SC, for Perhaps Love and Thelonious Monk
2022 Honorable Mention in the MOJA FINE ART EXHIBITION AT CITY GALLERY IN CHARLESTON, SC, for Procession
2021 Charleston Award (best in Show) for Beacon of Hope Coastal Carolina Fair in the Fine Arts Exhibition
2021 Best of Show for Quench Our Rivers, Our Lakes Exhibition at Grosse Pointe Art Center –
2021 Juror’s Award for Painting in the MOJA Fine Art Exhibition at City Gallery in Charleston, SC for A Father’s Love
2021 Award of Merit for Beacon of Hope Virginia Beach MidAtlantic “H2O” Juried Exhibition –
2017 Damned Exhibition – Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2017 Spoletto – Riverfront/City Gallery, Charleston, SC – Juried
2017 Honorable Mention – North Charleston Arts Festival
2016 Buckham Gallery – Flint Water Crisis, Flint, MI – TQP
2016 Greater Flint Arts Council – Michigan Invitational – TQP
2016 First Place – North Charleston Arts Festival, , N. Charleston, SC
2015 Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2015 Maniscalco Family Retrospective, Scarab Club, Detroit, MI
2015 Redux, Story Night – featuring The Quench Project, Charleston SC
2014 Redux, Story Night, Charleston SC
2014 Gibbes Museum, CAD Expo, Charleston SC
2014 – Winner of Portrait Competition,ARTFIELDS Lake City SC
2014 Jailbreak, Charleston, SC
2012 Anne Worsham Richardson Gallery– new works
2005-2007 Richard James Gallery, Charleston, SC
2005-2007 Ambient Gallery, Grosse Pointe, MI
1997 Merit Award – New Orleans Art Association XVIII National Juried Exhibition, LA James Leblanc
1996 Best of Show & Honorable Mention – Artist Guild Unlimited 33rd Annual, Morgan City, LA –
1995 Best of Show – Fourth Annual Westbank Art Guild National Competition, LA
1994 Honorable Mention – Salon International, Jackson, MS
1992 Best of Show – Sarasota Art Fair, FL
1987 Honorable Mention – Scarab Club Gold Medal Show, Detroit
1986 Honorable Mention – Palette and Brush, Warren, MI
1984 Honorable Mention – Michigan Advertising Arts Exhibition, Detroit, MI
SELECTED WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, TEACHING
2024-26 Beginning/intermediate oil painting Blair Center for the Arts
2022 Portrait Painting Workshop Crooked Creek Art League, Chapin, SC
2022 Portrait Painting Workshop VAF, Canton, MI
2018-19 Creative Arts Mt Pleasant. Drawing instructor for teens.
2018-9 Summerville Art Guild – Portrait Painting Demo/Workshop, SC
2017 Mt Pleasant Art Guild – Portrait Painting Demo/Worhshop, SC
2016-19 Charleston Southern University – Adj. Prof. Drawing /Painting class
2016 Seabrook Island Art Guild – Portrait Painting Worhshop, SI, SC
2014 Crooked Creek Art League – Portrait Painting Workshop, Chapin, SC
2007-16 Gibbes Museum of Art – Charleston, SC – Portrait painting workshop
2007-15 Charleston Artist Guild – Charleston, SC – Portrait painting demonstration and workshop
2005-08 Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center – Birmingham, MI – Advanced Portrait workshop
2005 Adult Learning Institute – Farmington, MI – multidisciplinary presentation
2004-06 College for Creative Studies – Detroit, MI – Adjunct Professor of Drawing
2005, 07 Self-Employment for the Arts Conference (SEA) – Chicago, IL – Being a Professional Artist Today
2004 Associated Creative Artists – Dallas, TX – demonstration
2003 Atlanta Portrait Society, Atlanta, GA – Portrait painting demonstration
2001 Edsel & Elenore Ford House, GP, MI – Plein Air Workhsop
2000 Renaissance Shop, Raleigh, NC “Power of Positive Painting” workshop
1998-00 Grosse Pointe War Memorial, MI “Power of Positive Painting” workshop
1995 Plymouth Community Arts Council, MI – “Artragious Fest” Featured artist/workshop
1995 St. Bernard Art Guild, LA – “Power of Positive Painting” workshop
1995, 96 Metairie Art Guild, LA -“Power of Positive Painting” lecture/demonstration
1994 – New Orleans Art Association, LA -“Power of Positive Painting” lecture/demonstration
1987, 96, 97 Grosse Pointe War Memorial, MI – portrait lecture/demonstration
1999-20 Detroit Festival of the Arts – in Detroit’s Cultural Center, Detroit, MI
1987, 96, 97 Grosse Pointe War Memorial, MI – portrait lecture/demonstration
1986 & 01 Scarab Club of Detroit, MI – two day portrait workshop
1985, 08 Lakeside Palette Club, St Clair Shores, MI – portrait lecture/demonstration
SELECTED ADJUDICATION, CONSULTATION AND CLINICS PRESENTED:
2025 Art on the Square Gallery – Created business Plan and consulting
2022-3 Livonia Art Commission Annual Exhibition – Facilitated Fundraising Art Auction
2017 Artfields Portrait Competition, Lake City, SC – Juror
2003 Grosse Pointe Hunt Club – Facilitated Fundraising Art Auction
2001-03 Detroit Yacht Club Detroit, MI – Facilitiated “Fresh Art Fest.” and art auction
2002 Comerica Tastefest – New Center/Detroit, MI – Facilitated Main Art Gallery Exhibition
1986 Downriver Council for the Arts, Dearborn, MI – guest speaker “Being an Artist Today”
2002 ArtServe Michigan – Selection committee for 2002 Governor’s Awards
2002 Art in the Park – XX – Halmich Park, Warren, MI
2002 St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce/MACAA – Facilitated Sessions and Developed an Action Plan for their Arts Mentoring Project
2000 Art at the Lake – Venetian Festival, St Clair Shores, MI
1999-00 Detroit Festival of the Arts consultant – in Detroit’s Cultural Center, Detroit, MI
1999-00 Prestige Art Show – facilitator – Warren Tri-County Arts, Warren, MI
1999 Warren Tri-County Arts, Warren, MI Juror – Prestige Art Show
1987 – 80 Grosse Pointe War Memorial, MI – portrait lecture/demonstration
1986 & 01 Scarab Club of Detroit, MI – two day PPP portrait workshop
1984 Lakeshore High School, St Clair Shores, MI “Career Night” speaker
ELECTED PUBLISHED WORKS:
|
2025 2021 |
Power of Positive Painting – a full color how to draw and paint method book |
| 2007 2006 |
The Portrait – a value-based painting system – Liliedahl Video Productions ArtBeat, Season one and two, Creator, Host and producer – produced by WTVS PBS Detroit |
| 2005 | The Fishfly – debut novel published by PublishAmerica, Inc |
| 1997 | Power of Positive Painting – Instructional Video about painting a portrait |
| 1996 | Authentic Sports – Set of Illustrations for upscale Tee-shirts |
| 1994 | New York Doctors Guide – Cover portrait of “Samantha” |
| 1987 | Lake St. Clair Symphony Orchestra – Color poster “Giselle” |
| 1984 | Grosse Pointe Theater – Five full color Program Covers |
| 1982 – | Samples of published Illustrations upon request, including posters, Ads, storyboard, courtroom sketching, book illustration, |
SELECTED MEDIA:
1997-04 Subject of over 45 newspaper/magazine articles, radio and TV interviews. See Media Links for more complete links. Highlights include:
| 2021 2009-14 |
News Now, interview on Fox 2 about his new book Lowcountry Live, featured artist, actor |
| 2009 | The Oprah Winfrey Show two episodes about Male CSA |
| 2008 | The Today Show (NBC) Presented portrait to the Lindsay family, who lost children to drunk driver |
| 2007 | Post & Courier “High Profile” |
| 2005 | Detroit News “Color Grosse Pointe painter successful: Maniscalco known for his portraits” |
| 2000 | Detroit Free Press Profile on “Face to Face,” exhibition of portraits by Van Gogh@DIA |
| 2002 | Grosse Pointe News – Pointer of Interest |
| 1998 | Crains Detroit “Fame in a Frame” profile of top Detroit portrait artists |
| Real Detroit Weekly – voted Detroit’s “Most Artist Friendly” Gallery | |
| 1996 | The Oakland Press “Capturing Life on a Canvas” |
| 1995 | WWNO Public Radio Spring Festival – interviewed about the state of the arts in N.O. |
| 1995 | Gambit – New Orleans Weekly “Best Bets” – featured artist |
| 1994 | New York Daily News “Picture this: Recent Portraits” |
| 1991-94 | New York Magazine “Sales and Bargains” – featured |
| 1994 | Manhattan Arts International “Artists in the ’90s” profile |
| 1994 | New York Doctors Guide “Immortality, Can we Live Forever?” – feature |
| 1993 | Detroit Free Press “If it weren’t for…” – feature |
| 1982 | Detroit News “Faces of China” – feature |
SELECTED TEACHING POSITIONS:
| 2016-19 2018-19 1997- |
Adj Prof. Drawing/Painting & Theatre Charleston Southern University Drawing to 6-18 year olds – Creative Arts of Mt Pleasant Painting and Drawing – Maniscalco Studio |
| 2013-15 | Paint with Wine Painting Adventures – Maniscalco Studio |
| 2009-10 | N. Charleston Cultural Arts Department – Artist in Residence |
| 2006-7 | Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Association (portraits in oil) |
| 2001-3 | College for Creative Studies, Detroit, Adjunct Faculty-Illustration Dept, Fig. Drawing |
| 1999 – 00 | University of Detroit, Art Appreciation to Bachelor candidates |
| 1998 –06 | Maniscalco Gallery, Detroit: various classes in drawing & painting |
| 1995-6 | Arden Cahill Academy, Gretna, LA K-8th art classes (6 week residency) |
| 1995-6 | Dixie Art Supply – New Orleans, LA (portraits in oil) |
| 1985-6 | Omni Arts in Education of Detroit, Michigan (inner city outreach) |
| 1984-87 | Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Michigan (portraits in oil & Acting) |
| 1985 – 6 | Grosse Pointe Theatre, Michigan (acting technique) |
| 1983-84 | Grosse Pointe South – GP Public Schools, Michigan (marching band director) |
| 1982- 3 | Detroit Public Schools, Michigan (music) |
SELECTED RELATED ARTS EXPERIENCE:
| 1997-05 | Maniscalco Gallery, Curator and Executive Director (See mission, above) |
| 2003-05 | Art Beat,Art Beat, host of this arts magazine on PBS in Detroit, profiling over 36 visual artists and reaching up to 75,000 viewers every time it aired, twice a week, the highest viewership of a locally produced show in WTVS history. Responsibilities included writing/editing, researching, interviewing artists, fact checking, direction, co-producing, logistical, planning. |
| 2001-06 | Inside Art – Host and co-producer over 60 Episodes, focussing on local arts & culture, for WMTV-5 Cable TV in Grosse Pointe/Harper Woods, MI Responsibilities included writing/editing, researching, interviewing artists, fact checking, direction, co-producing, logistical, planning. |
| 1997 – 2004 | Wayne County Council for Arts, History & Humanities – Responsibilities included fundraising, heading a 12 member board, directing programming, motivating volunteers to execute innovative programming, building coalitions between arts and Social Service agencies, Executing programs. Accomplishments during Presidency (2000-2003), included establishment of WCCAHH as a 501(c)3, increased annual budget from $8,000 to $65,000, created and expanded programs, including Artists Among Us Exhibition (a creative collaboration between poets, musicians and artists), Fresh Art Project (artists painting au plein air, followed by a live “fresh art” auction), Wayne County Recognition Awards, Compilation of History for publication, creating and adding six artworks to the public art collection in the historic Wayne County building and created Detroit Artist Network (DAN) to build a directory of arts organizations and reduce redundancy and find common ground between over 600 arts organizations in Wayne County, designed ARTnerships creating arts mentoring collaborations with COTS, St Vincent DePaul, and the Warren Conner Development Coalition. |
| 2001-02 | Youth on Stage – Presenting ongoing acting/coaching to young actors, Grosse Pointe Theatre, Grosse Pointe, MI – Also, Acting classes for adults and children at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. |
| 1998-99 | Great Lakes Sweet Adolines, conducted dynamic seminar-releasing organic singer within |
| 1996 | The Power of Positive Painting, created a comprehensive instructional video on portrait painting airing on NOETC, Acadian Public Access – Educational TV stations and sold as a video through American Artist Magazine. |
|
1996-97 1996-98 |
Musica da Camera, New Orleans – Sang with this award winning early music ensemble, recording on the Centour label. New Orleans Symphonic Orchestra Chorus – sang in concerts featuring Beethoven’s Ninth and Carmina Barona |
| 1987-present | Actor and Director in over 100 award-winning Charleston, Detroit and New York stage and regional film, television and theatre productions. See separate “theatre” resume. |
| 1991-93 | New Renaissance Chamber Artists, New York City – Lead actor and Development Director for this contemporary music/theatre ensemble. Generated over $28,000 in grants (including NEA) and composer/playright commissions for new works and performed at venues such as Weill Recital Hall and Baltimore’s First Night Festival. Also, through The Juilliard School Outreach Program – Created, presented and taught “new music” and story telling to grades K-6, 300 students per assembly. |
EDUCATION:
| 1978-1983 | Bachelor of Music and Fine Art, Orchestral Performance & Music Education (Certified Educator, K-12 in fine art and music) Paul Schaller School for Clarinet, Student teacher at Grosse Pointe South HS, under Ralph Miller – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI |
| 1989-1991 | Circle in the Square Professional Acting Certification – New York City (See acting resume) |
ARTS RELATED MEMBERSHIPS
NOAPS 2018 – present
Portrait Society of America 2003 – present
Charleston Artist Guild 2009 – present
Board of Visitors – Wayne State University Department of Visual and Performing Arts 2004-06
Grosse Pointe Theatre, Board of Directors – Public Relations Chair 1999-2000
Wayne County Council for Arts, History & Humanities, Past President 2003-7 (see “Arts Related Activities” above)
Scarab Club of Detroit, Board of Directors, Exhibitions Chair 2003-06
National Portrait Society 1998- 2003
DIA – Founders Society & Friends of Modern Art 1997-2006
ArtServe Michigan – served on Governor’s Arts Selection Committee 2005
Detroit Artists Market 2003-05
Grosse Pointe Arts Council
Grosse Pointe Art Association 2021-22
Mack Avenue Business Association
ART TRAINING:
| 1979-83 | Apprenticeship – Studio of Joseph Maniscalco |
| 1995 | Study with Ausaklis Ozoles at New Orleans Academy of Art |
| 1993 | Study with Harvey Dinnerstein at The Art Students League |
| 1983 | Michigan Certification in Fine Art Education: BM – Wayne State University |
Robert Maniscalco’s main portrait page
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Thank you Tom for your insight and perspective on the age old debate on nudity. Apparently, even male nudity from the waste up is a thing. I think ageism may have also been a factor - no one wants to see my sagging carcass. I'm proud I won, but I've been around long enough to know it could have easily been a bust - just not my bust. "Reflections" goes to Cincinnati next for a national show. I'm proud of the high quality this show is attracting, raising the artistic standards, if not the moral standards, of our region. This was my second 'best of' in as many years of the Lowcountry FA Showcase. Now, the question dangles tantalizingly over the horizon: should I go for three next year? Or quit while I'm ahead (but not a semi nude body!)? ...
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.I am excited to announce my painting, "Gratitude" has been juried into the Fall 2026 Open Juried Exhibition of the Portrait Society of Atlanta! The exhibition will take place at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, Georgia from October 3 to December 5, 2026. If you're in the Atlanta area definitely come check out the show! This painting will be available for purchase during the exhibition.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/gratitude/
#portraitsocietyofatlanta #painting #portraitpainting ...
Call Now
You are invited to an exhibition of my work and a lively Portrait Demonstration
PORTRAIT DEMONSTRATION
SEPTEMBER 15, @ 11:00 AM
at IOP REC CENTER, 24 28th Ave,
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
info: 843.886.8294
The exhibition will run from August 31 - September 19 ...
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Still wet on the easel, The Tan Suit has great significance, not only because Obama infamously wore one as President . . . Remember when this was such a terrible transgression? But making billions on buisness deals as President is okay? But I digress. This painting is from a pic I took in 2010 in front of Mother Emanuel Church, in a simpler time.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/the-tan-suit/ ...
Okay, prepare yourself for the release of the second collaboration between Nick C. Cerrato and myself, "The Great Dilemma." You gotta look deeply into this one to appreciate the details and expression. We are very excited to share this latest work with you. Click the link to take a closer look at what is going on in this bot relief. Whatcha think? ...