Bio

Rogelio Manzo

In most works, Manzo places the figures in the foreground with rarely a sense of an environment. Thus, the viewer is forced to focus on the fragmented visages and figures that are painted with an expressionistic fervor.

The surfaces of these works range from thick impasto to thin washes, worned and scratched areas to realistic hand painted hints of skin, flesh and bones, and sleek digital image transfers. This treatment adds to the sensation of his subjects being flayed to reveal their innermost feelings.

Manzo's preferred format of squares, often as large as 6' x 6', are painted on resin panel and canvas. The resin panel allow him to layer paint and image transfers on both the front and the back surfaces, creating depth and providing a place for light to play, depending on the translucence of the piece. He mimics this effect on the larger pieces, which are painted on canvas. On either media texture is added through his masterful paintery technique, recyclable materials and digital print transfers, integrating a complexity into the power of each piece. Manzo also focuses the viewer's attention on the anguished faces and bodies. His palette of tones of black, brown, gray, and a blood red adds to the feeling of bleak reality. As perhaps accents of optimism, occasional hits of dandelion yellow, sky blue, or cardinal red brightens his palette.

Working from colored ink, chalk, and graphite sketches and gouaches as well as directly on the canvas or resin panel, the artist has great freedom to "let the painting develop by itself," he explains. Because of the slow drying of the oil medium, Manzo works on as many as five paintings at the same time.

Manzo has been influenced by Rufino Tamayo Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Jose Luis Cuevas ,Paula Rego, Bacon and George Condo, but in generally as he states: "I try to let myself get influenced by almost any art I see since there's always something new to learn and get influenced by."

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1975, Manzo studied architecture at Instituto Tecnologico de Colima (1996-2001), but left before receiving his degree. He simultaneously studied with Rafael Heredia at the Escuela de Arte Juan Arrue (1997-1999). And has taken diverse workshops in drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Manzo's work is shown throughout USA, Mexico and Europe and the Middle East, at solo and group shows in comercial and non-profit galleries and international art fairs, most notably in Dubai at DUCTAC, Galerie C in Switzerland, Jack Fischer Gallery in San Francisco, Muriel Guepin Gallery in Brooklyn, Art Chicago, Art Miami, AAF New York, AAF London, artMRKT Hamptons and San Francisco and Art Toronto Canada.