CV/Bio
About me on YouTube
About me on the Fairfax County Council For The Arts website
In the News:
ARTIST STATEMENT
A Long time ago, when I was still in high school, a friend of mine asked me what I thought the purpose of life was. It
sounds absurd, but I didn't know, I was clue less. But when I am painting, or more specifically, when I am seeing
and articulating it in paint, then I feel I am closer to knowing what the purpose of life is. The purpose of life is to
acquire knowledge, about ourselves and the world we live in.
This leads me to a conclusion. In order to see what is in front of me and understand it, I have to paint from
life. I have to paint realistically. This is the only way that learning by seeing constitutes the requisition of
knowledge. I might also add that it is important to build on the knowledge of others.
This is why I paint in a style known as contemporary humanist realism. I am learning about the eternal subject, and
asking the infinitely old question, "who are we, where did we come from and where are we going?"
ABOUT ME, BY MASTER FRESCO PAINTER OTELLO CHITI
Presentare Michela Mansuino, questa giovane artista italo-americana, e per me motivo particulare soddisfazione e
interesse.
Soddisfazione perche ebbi la ventura e il piacere di impartirle, alcun anni fa, durante un suo soggiorno a Siena, le
prime lezioni di disegno: e poi, via via, durante i suoi studi in America presso la “Tyler School of Art” di Filadelfia
dove si diplomo a pieni voti, e le sue frequenti permanenze in Europa e in Italia: di seguirne il brilliante cammino,
confermato ad lusinghieri successi che le permisero di vincere vari premi in mostre e concorsi.
Interesse e apprezzamento per il sou “credo” pittorico, basato, per quanto concerne la tecnica, sullo studio degli
impressionisti e dei grandi maestri del Rinascimento (io le ho impartito anche lezioni di affresco); e, per quanto
reguarda l’espressione, orientato alla rappresentazione poetica della realta, attraverso un languaggio figurative puro
e lineare, scervo dal funambolismi e astruserie di certe manifestationi attuali.
Tali qualita sono facilmente riscontrabili sopratutto nei suoi paesaggi toscani dove il suo disegno incisivo e
penetrante, la sua cromia sobria e delicata, l’esatta percezzione degli spazi nel susseguirsi armionioso dei piani e
dei colli, riescono a esprimere tutto il loro ineguagliabile fascino.
Va da se che l’Arte id Michela non is esaurisce qui: I’introduzione di figure anche nel paesaggio (di cui possiamo
vederne anche qui qualche esempio), la viva interpretazione di certi ritratti, preannunciano interessi che vanno al di
la dei temi finora trattati. E la giovane eta dell’artista, la sua serieta e impegno nel lavoro, sono di ritenersi sicure
promesse per ulteriori nuovi sviluppi e conquiste, e non solo nelle tematiche. Otello Chiti, Siena, 31-10-1986
TRANSLATION, IN OTELLO'S WORDS, SIENA, 1986
Introducing Michela Mansuino, a young Italian American artist, is for me a matter of particular satisfaction and
interest.
Satisfaction because I had the opportunity and the pleasure to give her drawing lessons some years ago during her
sojourn in Siena; and after, during her studies in America at the “Tyler School of Art” of Philadelphia where she
graduated with the highest grades, and her frequent sojourns in Europe and Italy, knowing of her brilliant activities
corroborated by flattering successes which allowed her to win various prizes in exhibitions and competitions.
Interest and appreciation for her pictorial “credo” based, as for matter of technique, on her study of the
impressionists and the great masters of the Renaissance (I also gave her lessons in fresco painting): and also for her
artistic expression oriented on the poetic representations of reality by means of a pure and linear figurative
language, absent of the nonsense and tricks of some contemporary manifestations.
Such qualities are easily found, above all, in her Tuscan landscapes where her incisive and penetrating design, her
sober and delicate shade of color, her exact perception of spaces in the harmonious succession of plains and hills,
succeed in expressing all of their unequaled fascination.
It goes without saying that Michela’s Art goes beyond this point: the introduction of figures even in the landscape
(some examples of which may also be seen herein), the vivid interpretation of certain portraits, foreshadow
interests that go beyond the themes developed up to now. And the artist’s young age, her seriousness and
commitment in her work, are to be considered sure indications for further developments and conquests that go
beyond mere themes.
BIO
Michela received a BFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia. After which, she received museum permission to
study and copy masterworks in museums throughout Europe, including the Louvre, the Prado, the Uffizi and the
National Gallery, London. Subsequently she established residence in Florence, Italy, to pursue landscape painting,
and to study under the master fresco painter Otello Chiti. Over a four year period, Michela produced paintings of
the Tuscan Landscape en plein air. This culminated in her one person show at Gallery K, Washington D.C., and a
show in Siena, Italy.
Following her tenure in Italy, Michela relocated to Brazil, where she started her career as an instructor in the art
department of The American School of Recife. Working with middle and high school students, she created the
ceramics department and invited local artists to support and and assist in building this program. Attracted to the
light and the biosphere of the tropics, Michela continued to produce her paintings en plein air among the tropical
setting.
Currently, Michela holds the position of youth program instructor at The Arts of Great Falls, in Virginia. At the
same time, she has completed the full time professional program at Studio Incamminati, in Philadelphia, and now
has a diploma of fine arts from this institution. This year she has been awarded a fellowship at Studio
Incamminati and teaches there twice a week, for Project Home. She currently exhibits and sells her paintings
through galleries in the greater Washington Metropolitan area.
Michela was awarded the 2017 artist residency at Glasgow Middle School, through the Arts Council
of Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a two time recipient of the D. Colman Witte Scholarship from the Philadelphia
Foundation; the Jack Richeson and Maggie Price Scholarship Award; four Studio Incamminati full time Scholarship
Awards, she has been honored by The Portrait Society of America in both painting and sculpture, and was
recognized with the Vincenzo Palumbo Artisan Award through the Italian Cultural Society, Wash. D.C.
MICHELA MANSUINO
Education:
Currently a Fellow at Studio Incamminati 2017 - 2019
Understudied Robert Liberace, figure painting, anatomy and portrait, The Art Students League, Alexandria, VA
George Mason University, non-degree post baccalaureate courses for MAT program, Fairfax, VA
Bachelor of Fine Arts, magma cum laude, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Freshman Core Program, Fine Arts, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Understudied Master Fresco Painter Otello Chiti, Siena, summers, Italy
The Corcoran School of Art, Saturday Classes in ceramics, Washington, D.C.
One Person Shows:
"Tag Sales", over 100 paintings for silent auction at The Great Falls School of Art, Great Falls, Va.
"Twenty + Tuscan Landscape Paintings" permanently on view, originals and giant giclees at “Cesco’s Osteria”, Bethesda Row, MD.
"Bridging Her Life" retrospective show of oil paintings at The Hermitage Gallery, McLean, VA, U.S.A.
"Figure, Still Life and Landscape" oil paintings and drawings at the Foundry Gallery, Washington, D.C.
"Tropical Landscapes" oil paintings and graphite drawings at Adams National Bank, Zenith Gallery, Washington, D.C.
"Manscapes and Still Lifes" oil paintings at the Brazilian-American Cultural Institute Art Gallery, Wash., D.C.
"Italian Landscapes" oil paintings and graphite drawings at Gallery K, Wash., D.C.
"La Tavolozza Dorata" oil and gouache paintings and drawings at Galleria Casa Di Chesino, Poggibonsi, Siena, Italy
"BFA Show" oil paintings, pastels and etchings at Tyler School of Art Galleries, Elkins Park, PA
Group Shows and Prizes:
International Guild of Realism Winter Online Salon, finalist
Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, finalist in the still life category
Artspace Herndon "Expressions" Portrait exhibition and competition, finalist, Herndon, Va.
Exhibiting at Freemans Auction house through Studio Incamminati
Awarded the Jack Richeson and Maggie Price Scholarship; the D. Colman Witte scholarship from the Philadelphia Foundation, and the Studio Incamminati Scholarships
Susan Calloway Gallery, "The Landscape Now", Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Honorable Mentions, The Portrait Society of America
Food Glorious Food" oil paintings in the ZCAF Calendars, Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC
"Trees of Life" oil paintings at Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC
"28th Anniversary Exhibition" oil paintings at Zenith Gallery, Wash., D.C.
"Gallery Artists" oil paintings at The Hermitage Design and Art Gallery, Mclean, VA
"Three Landscape Painters from San Gimignano" L'Albero Celeste, San Gimignano, Siena, Italy
"The Ten Newest Pernambuco Artists" The Emporium of Bom Jesus, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
"Artists and Artisans Represented" 20th Anniversary Show-case of Gallery Artists, Zenith Gallery, Wash., D.C.
"International Icarus" Third Place Award for an oil painting called "To Fly", Nags Head, NC
"Latin American Women Artists" oil paintings at Adams National Bank, Zenith Gallery, Wash., D.C.
"Annual Holiday Shows" landscape paintings at Zenith Gallery, Wash., D.C.
"Intro Show" oil landscapes at Zenith Gallery, Wash., D.C.
U.S. Embassy in Paris "Art Show" Second Place Award for an oil painting called "Primavera", annual art exhibition and competition, Hotel Talleyrand, France
"Fairfax County Council of Art Award Show" First Place Award for an oil painting called "Night", at the Fairfax County Judicial Center, Fairfax, VA
Pearl Fox Gallery "New Talent" pastels and etchings, Melrose Park, PA
Artist's Equity Association "Award Exhibition for Emerging Artists" Travelling Show to U.S. East Coast Cities, oil painting called "View of Pottsville, PA"
Architectural Projects and Commissions:
"Lucas" portrait, private commission
"Patricia Hibson" portrait, private commission
"Brother’s” portrait, private commission
“Sister’s” portrait, private commission
Portrait of Norman Joseph Violette, founder of Washington Laboratories, Washington, DC
Copy of "The Medlar Tree", copy of my original, through the Hermitage Gallery, McLean, VA
"Dolley Madison Library Teen Mural" An AT & T Grant for the creation of a mural to attract teens to their reading section, McLean, VA
Casa Cor, Main Balcony, designed by Andre Caricio, charcoal drawings, ornamental decorations and faux finishes, Recife, PE, Brazil
"The Chapel of Our Lady Of Grace", trompe l'oeil mural on a private chapel altar wall; 32 sq. meters, Sairè, Pernambuco, Brazil
Casa Cor, Leisure Room, designed by Andre Caricio, a trompe l'oeil oil painting of a window, Recife, PE, Brazil
Casa Cor, Hall, designed by Beth Araruna for a graphite portrait of a young woman, Recife, PE, Brazil
Collections:
- Bill Travis, various Tuscan Landscape Paintings, Texas
- Pinacoteca of Poggibonsi, "Poggibonsi Landscape at Sunset" oil painting, Siena, Italy
- Art Gallery of the Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, "Rio de Janeiro and Cable Car" oil painting diptych, Wash.,D.C.
- Rosalinda Meza-Steel, "Gino's Poplar" oil painting, Wash., D.C.
Teaching Experience
Project Home, drawing instructor at Studio Incamminati
Artist Resident, Fairfax County Public Middle Schools, through the Fairfax County Council for the Art, Virginia, USA
Currently Instructor at The Great Falls School of Art, Youth Program, classical drawing, painting and clay modeling.
Summer Camps instructor, The Great Falls School of Art
Summer Camp instructor, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Instructor at the Fairlington Community Center for Manga Figure Drawing, Arlington, VA
Volunteer teaching, throwing on the wheel for AP students, through Jeff Meizlick, McLean High School, McLean, VA
Middle and High School Art Teacher, American School of Recife (Accredited by the Southern Association of Credited Schools) drawing, painting, ceramics, hand building, wheel throwing, and clay modeling.