Alumni profile: John Manion '05
Massachusetts native John Manion '05 has been creating and exhibiting sculptures that explore identity and wellness for more than 20 years.
His most recent exhibition was a collaboration with American visual and conceptual artist Leopold Masterson called “Under The Big Tops Collaborative Sculpture,” which was on display on West 39th Street in New York, N.Y., earlier this fall.
The exhibit—curated by Sam Gassman—featured ceramic sculptures that show human faces, fruit, depictions of everyday objects, and dessert food items. Combined, the images created hybrid sculptures that have associations to clowns, mental health, gay culture, and gender identity.
“My work relates to my identity as a gay biracial/Asian man, and suggests that there are multiple ways to occupy a male body,” Manion says. “My sculpture involves hand modeling, mold making, casting and combining recognizable imagery to create hybrid forms.”
Manion, who was born in Cambridge, Mass., and grew up in Brookline, Mass., now lives and works in Albany, N.Y., where he has a downtown art studio. He graduated from UMass with a BFA in sculpture, and went on to earn his MA and MFA degrees in sculpture at The University of Iowa. His art explores identity and health and wellness.
“Through my process, I create unique forms that suggest new narratives that question hetero-sexist values,” Manion explains. “The emotional, feminine man is treated with dignity and respect. My work references identity art, feminist art, process art surrealism and current contemporary art.”
Manion’s sculptures have been exhibited inn Brooklyn, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; and North Adams, Mass.
To learn more about Manion, visit his website.