EMILY MANWARING

I imagine my life in the Caribbean and the celebration of my culture. Within celebration, there is revolution, storytelling, prayer, and freedom. I think about painting and sculpture the way a musical composition is formed or a dance is choreographed—an amalgamation of notes that create a symphony. In my work, a blast of sound and sensation emerges. The rhythm of the paintbrush draws the viewer into a world textured with layered terrains. Dancing through the winds of the island, experiencing the vibrancy of colors and joyous energies, becomes a journey of its own.

My work is an ode to the spirits of celebration within the Black diaspora. I look to storytelling as a visual language, communicating the experiences of my life and a shared consciousness. Through rich, dazzling color, I compose scenes of abundant beauty. The autonomy of the body and the presence of love are central to my practice. I ask myself: how can I embody someone's true essence through a painting or sculpture? Collaging allows me to gather images from the past and present, creating futuristic memories that encapsulate the journey of time. Returning to the work feels like looking back at family photographs—moments filled with the warmth of love and connection.

I think of my paintings as windows into the lives of the people I depict and the occasions they share. What would it look like if all of your memories were woven together into a single environment? These memories form a patchwork, a textile pattern resembling the layered complexity of a quilt. My collages become offerings to the world and a renewable source of solace.

I am deeply interested in how my materials translate emotion: how painting allows for fluidity, how cement and bricks bring solidification, and how steel introduces luminosity. I am drawn to the worlds that build themselves within my work and how visual language can hold memory, spirit, and feeling. I hope my art reflects and expands the life around me.