IRIS OBSCURA

26th April - 24th May, 2024 / Abject Gallery through Breeze Creatives

Opening Reception: 26th April 2024, 6pm - 8pm

PRESS RELEASE - CLICK HERE

‘Iris Obscura’, 2023, Cast / Hand-polished Glass, Mirror, Stainless Steel.

It’s been some time since i’ve updated my news, and I am sorry for that! In late 2020 I relocated to Sunderland in NE England to embark on a practice based PhD at The National Glass Centre through the University of Sunderland. My thesis title, ‘Casting Self Reflection: Three-Dimensional Mirrors within Contemporary Glass Art Practice’, focuses on the use of investment (plaster / silica) moulds to create dimensional spaces within solid glass for a mirror to be applied. Through nearly 3 years of research I have unveiled a palette of mirroring effects, whereby the mirror can take on varying qualities reminiscent of crocodile skin, peach fuzz or tanned leather (to name a few).

It is by absolute pleasure to announce that I will be bringing together all of my research within my first solo exhibition in NE England, ‘Iris Obscura’. I am highlighting a snippet of the press release below for more details. The full document can be downloaded HERE. I hope you can join us at Abject Gallery in the Athenaeum Building in Sunderland City centre on 26th April, 6-9pm.

 
"Iris Obscura" represents the culmination of Manousis’ extensive research of cast glass mirrors, a technique historically overlooked in mirror-making due to its textured, opaque surface. Through meticulous experimentation, Manousis has harnessed the potential of investment cast glass as a canvas for silver nitrate coatings, creating a mesmerising palette of surface effects.

The centrepiece of the exhibition, funded in part by Arts Council England,  is a 400+ part wall installation of glass prisms with multi-faceted mirrored interiors. Handcrafted and digitally fabricated, this monumental work responds dynamically to the expansive walls and natural light of the Abject galleries exhibition space, inviting visitors into a realm of visual enchantment.
Accompanying the installation are over 100 cast glass mirror samples created during Manousis' PhD studio research, along with a series of sculptures that upturn the reflected ‘truth’ that a mirror evokes.

European Glass Festival

20th October, 2019 - 10th September, 2019

‘Bottled Pear’, 2018, Cast + Blown Glass / Cast Bronze / Patina, 16” x 11” x 5”

I have been invited to participate in this years, ‘Play with Glass’ Exhibition for the 2019 European Glass Festival held in Wrocław Główny Station, Poland. Curated by Anita Bialic, I am one of 13 European artists selected for the exhibition. ‘Bottled Pear’, 2018 along with a new triptych of glass decanters (title TBD) will be featured within the show. For more information CLICK HERE.

PAD London

30 SEPTEMBER - 6 OCTOBER 2019

BERKELEY SQUARE W1

Todd Merrill Studio will showcase ‘The Golden Thread’ (Hex Decanters), 2019 at this years PAD fair set in the vibrant heart of Mayfair, London. PAD is London’s leading fair for 20th Century art, design and decorative arts. I will be exhibiting my work alongside a shortlist of Merrills artists and designer, including British artist, Sophie Coryndon .

Inspiring a unique spirit of collecting, PAD epitomises how modern art, photography, design, decorative and tribal arts interact to reveal astonishing combinations and create the most individual and staggering interiors. Prominent international galleries from major cities across Europe, North America and Asia come together to offer an exceptional panorama of the most coveted and iconic works available on the market today. PAD is a place to discover and acquire pieces of museum quality with a distinct history. PAD cultivates eclecticism, authenticity and connoisseurship with passion and flair. Its boutique setting is designed to inspire collectors, art consultants, museum experts, interiors specialists, design practitioners and the public alike, making PAD the only event of its kind.

‘The Golden Thread’ (Hex Decanters), 2019, Cast Crystal / 24 Carat Gold Mirror, 11h x 11w x 3.50d in

BelleVue Arts Museum

August 23, 2019 - January 12, 2020

Emerge/Evolve 2018: Rising Talents in Kiln-Glass showcases an international host of emerging artists whose cutting edge work in kiln-glass (or kiln-formed glass) offers a different perspective on the medium. The exhibition opened at The Bullseye Projects exhibition space in Portland OR and later toured to the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA. The BelleVue Arts Museum in Washington will present the final stop for this inspirational show featuring incredibly diverse works of art.

My two wall installations, ‘Indra’s Web’, 2015 and ‘Selene’, 2017 will be showcased along with ‘Bottled Pear’, 2018 and ‘The Golden Thread’ (Diamond Point), 2019. The reception celebration will be held on October, 3rd 2019. I am truly excited to see the work in situ. For more information click here.

‘The Golden Thread’ (Diamond Point), 2019, Cast Crystal / 24-Carat Gold Mirror, 16.25 x 9.75 x 3 inches (installed)

Momentum Exhibition

The Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC

Momentum Gallery in downtown Asheville NC will be presenting a collection of my work spanning from 2012 – 2015. 'Lace’, ‘Distilled Portraits’ and ‘Veil’ will feature in 'Summer of Glass', a celebration of the medium in conjunction with the Chihuly exhibition at the Biltmore Estate.The exhibition, running from July 1 – August 25, 2018 nods to the Gilded Age, a period during the late 19thCentury when the Biltmore Estate was conceived and constructed by railway tycoon George Vanderbilt.  This curated show features recent work by some of the country’s top contemporary glass artists and responds to Vanderbilt’s dream of opulence, grandeur, and beauty.  Stylish sculptures and sophisticated wall pieces incorporate a variety of glass techniques and reference the intricate detailing, ornamentation, and drama indicative of the Gilded Age.

E-Merge / E-Volve

A body of my work will feature in 'Evolve 2018', alongside artists Cassandra Straubing and Kathryn Wightman. This three person show, put together through Bullseye Projects in Portland, OR will coincide with E-Merge, a  juried biennale award exhibition celebrating work made in Bullseye glass. Evolve is a companion exhibit that celebrates former Emerge finalists who have continued to create works that expand the medium.

I've been working on some preliminary studies for a much larger piece which I hope to complete by the end of summer. The simple arrangement of 16 carved black glass tiles (see above) took inspiration from a carved marble façade in the interior of St Mary's Chapel in Sudley, England. The embellishment is a very small component of the alter area, the chapel being famous for its altar-tomb of Catherine Parr, the 6th and last wife of King Henry VIII. Here, the details of foliage are left with a black satin surface. Only the high points in the design are polished in order to give contrast and a noticeable line quality in the texture of the relief. 

History aside, I was drawn to the intimate detailing in this wall motif, which is very much understated in its positioning inside the chapel. It led me to compose the installation sketch seen below. I have taken the focal elements in the wall design and have broken them into individual units that are comprised of diamonds, circles and rectilinear formations. The chapel façade is replicated, yet looks to dilute and fragment as it expands outwards. 

Preliminary sketch for new installation to make a debut with Todd Merrill Studio in the Fall, 2018

Spring News / Design Basel Switzerland

Hello,

The last 6 months have been a whirlwind to say the least. With the completion of a touring exhibition, 'Young Glass' that finished its travels at The National Glass Center, England, two visiting artist lectures at The Royal College of Art, London and The California College of Arts, Oakland as well as one workshop down and 2 to go, its been a busy start to 2018. Oh, and I've been grappling motherhood...a full time job in itself. 

I am delighted to announce that 'Demeter II', 'Distilled Portrait' and 'Bottled Pear' will be exhibited at this years Design Miami / Basel, Switzerland through Todd Merrill Studio from June 12-17. This is the first time that my work has been featured within this international platform for twentieth and twenty-first century furniture, lighting and objets d’art. My work will be presented among excellent company, including Molly Hatch, Sophie Coryndon, and Shari Mendelson to name only a few. Although I cannot attend in person I am excited to have my work presented to new collectors, designers, curators and critics from around the world.

'Demeter II', 2018, Cast Glass / Stainless Steel / Aluminum, 33.5" x 33.5" x 3"

'Bottled Pear', 2018, Cast + Blown Glass, Bronze, Patina, 16" x 14.5" x 4"

'Distilled Portrait', 2014, Cast Crystal / Mirror / Stainless Steel, 16" x 5" x 5"