BIOGRAPHY
Having spent decades as a wife, mother, and teacher of mathematics, Manuelita Brown, professional artist and sculptor, is endowed with an exceptional understanding of universal human experiences. She combines this sensitivity with her broad training and innate artistic talent to create artwork frequently described as eclectic and authentically personal.
Specializing in bronze figurative and portrait sculpture, Manuelita has completed private, corporate, and public commissions, including eight life-sized dolphins, Almas del Mar, on display in La Jolla, California; Encinitas Child, a whimsical figure welcoming visitors to this coastal city near San Diego, California; bust of Matthew A. Henson, on exhibit at the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, Maryland; Triton, an 8-foot rendering of the “messenger of the sea” majestically immortalized on the University of California San Diego campus; the life size statue of Sojourner Truth and a bust of Justice Thurgood Marshall, embellishing Thurgood Marshall College on the same campus.
Trained by veteran sculptors, including Bruno Lucchesi (New York), Nigel Konstam (Italy), and Simon Kogan (Washington), Manuelita has been honored with numerous awards accompanying her participation in juried shows and exhibitions throughout the country, such as the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa, Florida; Artscape in Baltimore, Maryland; the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia; the National Black Fine Arts Show in Soho, New York, and the Sausalito Art Festival in Sausalito, California.
In Sojourner Truth, Manuelita demonstrates her preference for life-sized as opposed to monumental sculptures of remarkable people, to effectively help viewers relate to the humanity of that individual. Her primary goals are to contribute sculpture works to the American public which edify and give expression to the human spirit, and to convey the strength, character, and beauty of her own people, the descendants of African survivors in the Americas.
ART SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
| 2008, 2009 | Phillipe Faraut, Highland Valley Studios, Ramona, CA Portrait Sculpture/Figure |
| 2006, 2007 | Simon Kogan, Fire Art Foundry, San Diego , CA Sculpture Workshop: Portraits & Figures |
| 2004 | Eugene Daub, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, Az Figure and Portrait Sculpture in Bas-Relief |
| 2003 | Bruno Lucchesi, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ Terracotta sculpture |
| 2000 | Nigel Konstam, Verrocchio d’Arte Centro, Casole d’Elsa, Sienna, Italy Stone carving techniques |
| 1997, 1999 | Lincoln Fox, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ Life Sculpture-the Creative Process in Sculpture |
| 1992-1994 | Lane Campbell, Sculptor and Owner, Fire Arts Foundry, San Diego, CA Sculpture, foundry techniques |
| 1960-1962 | Wayne Taysom, Oregon State University Sculpture, clay, welded steel, metal (centrifugal & gravity) casting |
FORMAL EDUCATION
| M.S. Psychology 1975-1976 | University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA |
| Teaching Credential Secondary Mathematics 1966 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR |
| B.S. Mathematics 1960-1962 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR |
PUBLIC ART & AWARDS
| Missy, 2021: City of San Diego Practice Purchase, San Diego, CA |
| Dr. Richard A. Williams bust, 2019: Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA |
| Ozzie Davis & Ruby Dee Living Legends Award, 2019: Crossroads Theatre Company, New Brunswick, NJ |
| Sojourner Truth, 2014: University of California , San Diego |
| Beautiful, Brilliant, and Brave: in celebration of Black Women in San Diego, 2014: Women’s Museum of California, San Diego |
| Flame and Cross, 2010: United Methodist Church Symbol, Encinitas, CA. |
| Triton, 2008: University of California , San Diego |
| Encinitas Child, 2008. Main access thoroughfare on Pacific Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA |
| Dr. Howard H. Carey bust, 2006: Neighborhood House, San Diego, CA |
| Second Place, 3-D Other Sculpture Division, 2006 International Fine Art Show, San Diego County Fair, CA |
| First Prize, Sculpture & Purchase Award—The Best & The Brightest 2003, Scottsdale AZ |
| First Place Fine Art—ArtScape ’02, Baltimore, MD |
| Woman of Distinction 2002—Soroptomist International: San Diego, CA |
| Finalist—Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue, 2000: Northampton, MA |
| Best of Show 3-D, 1999 African American National Arts Festival: Dallas, TX |
| Don Diego Sculpture Award & First Place, Small Sculpture Division, 1998 International Fine Art Show, Del Mar Fair |
| Almas del Mar, 1997: TrizecHahn Centers for University Towne Center |
| Matthew A. Henson bust, 1995: James E. Lewis Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD |
| Thurgood Marshall bust, 1993: University of California, San Diego |
PUBLICATIONS LIST
| 2018 | Encinitas artist carves out a lasting impression; San Diego Union-Tribune & affiliates, March 4-9, 2018 |
| 2016 | Featured in U C San Diego advertisement, LA Times, NY Times, and Southwest Airlines Magazine |
| 2009 | Commissions in Brief; Sculpture, Vol. 28, No. 2 |
| 2009 | Moving Forward Reflecting Back; The Hanford Sentinel, February 6, 2009, pp. A6-7 |
| 2009 | Manuelita Brown Sculpts the Soul of Encinitas; Encinitas Magazine, Winter 2009, pp. 34-39 |
JURIED SHOWS & EXHIBITIONS (Partial List)
| Twenty Women Artists: NOW; Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA 2021 |
| Inspired: Selections from OMA Staff; Oceanside Museum of Art 2021 |
| All Colors Invitational; Portfolio Gallery, Clayton, MO 2020 |
| Contemporary CA Sculpture-NSS in CA; Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA 2020 |
| California Sculpture Exhibit; National Sculpture Society Gallery, New York, NY 2019 |
| Solo Exhibit – SONY Corporate Building Gallery, San Diego, CA 2019 |
| Sculpture Garden, Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson, AZ 2019 |
| Prom Dress: Seventeen on Being 17; Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad, CA 2018 |
| Legacy in Black; San Deigo African American Museum of Fine Art at San Diego History Center, San Diego, CA 2017-18 |
| 100 Artists, 100 Years: Celebrating The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild 1915-2015 : Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA 2015 |
| Beautiful, Brilliant, and Brave: in celebration of Black Women in San Diego; Women’s Museum of California, San Diego, CA 2014 |
| Solo Exhibit – Southwestern College, San Diego, CA 2013 |
| National Black Fine Arts Show, Puck Bldg., Soho, NY 2004-2008 |
| Just Lookin’ Gallery, Hagerstown, MD 2006-8 |
| San Diego Museum of Art Artists’ Guild Juried Show 2003, 2005-7 |
| National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002-2005 |
| San Diego Museum of Art Artists’ Guild Juried Exhibition, Boehm Gallery, Oceanside, CA 2005 |
| Sculpture Spectacular, The Art & Cultural Center, Fallbrook, CA 2004 |
| Featured Artist – San Diego Sculptors’ Guild, San Diego, CA 2001, 2004 |
| Artexpo NY, New York, NY 2003 |
| Magnolia Festival of the Arts plus Jazz, El Cajon, CA 1998, 2000 |
| Solo Exhibit – UCSD Faculty Club Gallery, University of California, San Diego, CA 1995, 1999 |
| African American National Arts Festival, Dallas, TX 1999 |
| L.A. Juried Exhibition, William Grant Still Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA 1997 |
ORGANIZATIONS
| International Sculpture Center (Member) |
| National Sculpture Society (Member) |
| Oceanside Museum of Art Artists Alliance (Member) |
| UCSD Black Alumni Scholarship Fund Board (Board Chair) |
| Encinitas Preservation Association Board (Founding Member) |