About Manuelita

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, 2009Phillipe Faraut, Highland Valley Studios, Ramona, CA
Portrait Sculpture/Figure
2006, 2007Simon Kogan, Fire Art Foundry, San Diego , CA
Sculpture Workshop: Portraits & Figures
2004Eugene Daub, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, Az
Figure and Portrait Sculpture in Bas-Relief
2003Bruno Lucchesi, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
Terracotta sculpture
2000Nigel Konstam, Verrocchio d’Arte Centro, Casole d’Elsa, Sienna, Italy
Stone carving techniques
1997, 1999Lincoln Fox, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
Life Sculpture-the Creative Process in Sculpture
1992-1994Lane Campbell, Sculptor and Owner, Fire Arts Foundry, San Diego, CA
Sculpture, foundry techniques
1960-1962Wayne 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
FinalistSojourner 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

2018Encinitas artist carves out a lasting impression; San Diego Union-Tribune & affiliates, March 4-9, 2018
2016Featured in U C San Diego advertisement, LA Times, NY Times, and Southwest Airlines Magazine
2009Commissions in Brief; Sculpture, Vol. 28, No. 2
2009Moving Forward Reflecting Back; The Hanford Sentinel, February 6, 2009, pp. A6-7
2009Manuelita 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)