Artist Statement
My work is born out of a sustained exploration of human nature and the conflicts between our inner reality and the world we occupy. I often emphasise decadence and grandiosity to illuminate the superfluous nature of accumulated luxury when faced with our impermanence. I am also interested in engaging the viewer’s gaze, drawing the participant into a state of reflection, literally and philosophically, about the essence of human existence and ideas related to growth, emotionality, aspiration and mortality.
Glass is my chosen medium and I am drawn to its contrasting qualities–transparent yet solid, it simultaneously reveals yet barricades. In recent works, I have used cast glass as a lens to magnify residual formations of objects within. These negative spaces are occasionally mirrored, enlivening static surfaces in my pursuit to reflect the viewer and the environment that the work inhabits. Incorporating the audience’s gaze, distorted or clear, centralises the viewer within the work, facilitating a stronger connection between observer and object.
Bio
British / American artist Joanna Manousis creates objects and installations in glass, mirrors, and mixed media that reference human emotion, memory, and the passage of time. Her work has received nominations for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and a Bombay Sapphire Award for 'Excellence in Glass’ and has received the Margaret M. Mead Award and the Hans Godo Frabel Award. Manousis has participated in internationally recognised residency programs, including the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio; the Museum of Arts and Design, New York; the Corning Museum of Glass, New York; and Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France. Her work has been exhibited at Design Miami and Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland; FOG Art + Design, San Francisco; the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Ebeltoft, Denmark; and the British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, England. Manousis’ PhD research at The National Glass Centre through the University of Sunderland focuses on dimensional mirrors within cast glass, a practice historically overlooked in mirror and artmaking. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Alfred University, New York, and a Bachelor of Fine Art–Glass from The University of Wolverhampton, England. Manousis has worked, studied, and taught in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. She currently resides in NE England, conducting PhD research focusing on dimensional cast glass mirrors for visual art practice at The National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Education
2021 – Present Art and Design Doctor of Philosophy
National Glass Centre at The University of Sunderland, UK
2008 - 2010 Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture / Dimensional Studies
New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA
2004 - 2007 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Glass – First Class Honors
Wolverhampton University, Wolverhampton, UK
2003 - 2004 Btec National Foundation Diploma in Art / Design
Yale College, Wrexham, UK
Solo / Two-Person Exhibitions
2024 Iris Obscura, The Athenaeum Building, Sunderland, UK
Joanna Manousis, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC, USA
2020 Focus: Joanna Manousis, Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2018 Coupled, Joanna Manousis + Zac Weinberg, The Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery, The Ohio State University, Marion, OH, USA
2017 Nature / Morte, (Solo), River House Arts, Toledo, OH, USA
2016 The Garden of Earthly Delights, Joanna Manousis + Zac Weinberg Ease Gallery, Columbus, OH, USA
2014 The Dominant Sophia, (Solo), Urban Glass Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2012-13 Presence in the Past, (Solo), Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2011 Fertile Ground, (Solo), Exhibit A, Corning, NY, USA
2007 Ladies and Lace, (Solo), Bilston Craft Gallery, Bilston, USA
Group Exhibitions
2024 ‘Menagerie’, The National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK
Transitions in Kiln Glass, Bullseye Projects, Bellevue Art Museum, WA, USA
The British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK, USA
2024 WEAR: Contemporary Jewelry, Focus Gallery, Penland, NC, USA
2023 ‘UrbanSparkle’, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY, USA
‘This is Becoming a Pattern’, Pittsburgh Glass Centre, PA, USA
MAD About Jewelry, Museum of Art and Design, NY, USA
Collect, Somerset House, London, UK
2022 ‘First Impressions’, Charles Burnand Gallery, London, UK
Artefact, Chelsea Pier, London, UK
‘Pattern, Line, Form’, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, UK
Coburg Prize for Contemporary Glass, Coburg, Germany
2021 ‘Re-Formation’, Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA
‘Material Matters’, Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
NGC Glass Prize, National Glass Center, Sunderland, UK
2020 Reliant Objects, Killingworth Gallery Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, Canada
Collect, Somerset House, London, UK
2019 - 20 European Glass Festival, Wroclaw, Poland
2019 PAD Genève / London, Route François-Peyrot 30, Geneva, Switzerland
Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, IN, USA
2018 – 19 The Toledo Museum of Art, Wolfe Gallery (Temporary Loan), Toledo, OH, USA
2018-20 E-volve, Bellevue Art Museum, WA / The Chrysler Museum, VA, Bullseye Projects, OR, USA
2018 Design Miami / Basel, Meredith Ave & 19th St, Miami, FL, USA
Momentum: Hot Glass, Sponsored by Libby Foundation, Toledo, OH, USA
Art Basel, Exhibition and Trade Center, Basel, Switzerland
Art Wynwood, Miami, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL, USA
2017 The Salon: Art + Design, Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY, USA
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, IN, USA
The British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK, USA
Young Glass, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Ebeltoft, Denmark, USA
Fog Design + Art, Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, CA, USA
2016 The Salon: Art + Design, Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY, USA
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, IN, USA
Collective Design, Skylight Clarkson Square, New York, NY, USA
Lifeforms 2016, Hodge Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA / Houghton Gallery, Corning, NY
Fog Design + Art, Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, CA, USA
2015 The Salon: Art + Design, Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY, USA
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, IN, USA
Best of 2015: Ohio Designer Craftsmen, Ohio Craft Museum, OH, USA
The Collective Design Fair, New York, NY, USA
2014 The Salon: Art + Design, Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY, USA
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, IN, USA
Coburg Prize for Contemporary Glass, European Museum of Modern Glass Rödental, Germany
2nd Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Glass, Minnetrista Cultural Arts Center, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
2013 Gathering: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland, Kokomo, IN, USA
Shattered: Contemporary Sculpture in Glass, [Art Prize], Frederik Meijer
Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
2013 Young Sculptors Competition, Miami University, Miami, OH, USA
Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
Best of 2013: Ohio Designer Craftsmen, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH, USA
2013 Bruntnell Astley Contemporary Glass, Ruskin Glass Center, Stourbridge, UK
Collective Design Fair, Manhattan, NY, USA
New Visions, Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2012 Urban Glass MFA Show, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2011 - 12 Breath Taking, Crafts Council, London, UK
2011 Art in Craft Media, Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
Southern Tier Biennial, Olean, NY, USA
Contemporary Glass, Exhibit A, Corning, NY, USA
2010 E-Merge, Bullseye Glass Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Domesticity: How We Live, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, PA, USA
Home, Glass Museum at Broadfield House, Stourbridge, UK
2009 The Hans Frabel Glass Awards, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, (Permanent collection) Ebeltoft, Denmark
The Feast, Pittsburgh University Gallery, Kansas, USA
2008 Pilchuck Glass Auction, Seattle, USA
Origin, Somerset House, London, UK
Beautifully Crafted, 10th Year Anniversary, The National Glass Museum, UK
Glass Routes, Bilston Craft Gallery, UK
The British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK
The Bombay Sapphire Awards, Via Tortona, Milan, Italy
2007 New Designers, Business Design Center, London, UK
BA Thesis Exhibition, Wolverhampton University, UK
Awards / Scholarships
2021 Arts Council England Project Grant, London, UK
2019 The Queen Elizabeth Award, London, UK
2017 The Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, (Nomination), New York, NY, USA
The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Award, London, UK
2016 GCAC Professional Development Grant / Supply Grant, Columbus, OH, USA
2015 The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Award, London, UK
GCAC Professional Development Grant / Supply Grant, Columbus, OH, USA
Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, Fred Metz Class, WA, USA
2014 Inaugural Borowsky Award Nomination, Philadelphia, PA, USA
GCAC Professional Development Grant, GCAC, Columbus, OH, USA
Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, Brachlow / Whitely Class, Stanwood, WA, USA
2013 GCAC Supply Grant, GCAC, Columbus, OH, USA
Best in Show, Indiana Glass Alliance, Kokomo University, IN, USA
Emerging Artist Award, ‘Best of Ohio 2013’, Ohio Craft Museum, OH, USA
Corning Museum of Glass, Study Scholarship, Higuchi Class, Corning, NY, USA
Inaugural Borowsky Award Nomination, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2012 Northlands Creative Glass Center, Study Scholarship, Scotland, UK
2011 Margaret M. Mead Award, Burchfield-Penney Arts Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
Corning Museum of Glass, Study Scholarship, Gudenrath Class, NY, USA
2010 Emerge, ‘Finalist’, Bullseye Glass, Portland, OR, USA
2009 Hans Frabel Glass Awards, ‘Excellence and Innovation’, GA, USA
2008 Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship Ben Moore/Boyd Sugiki Class, Stanwood, WA, USA
Bombay Sapphire Glass Awards, ‘Nominee’, Milan, Italy
2007 Full Tuition MFA Fellowship, Alfred University, NY, USA
2007 Pearson’s Glass Award, ‘Emerging Artist’, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, George / Lepisto Class, Stanwood, WA, USA
GAS, ‘International Student Award’, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2006 Corning Glass Award Nomination, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA, USA
Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, Thor Bueno Class, Stanwood, WA, USA
2005 Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Study Scholarship, Willenbrink Class, ME, USA
Residencies
2017 The Toledo Museum of Art, ‘GAPP Resident’, Toledo, OH, USA
2015 Wolverhampton University, ‘AA2A Artist in Residence’, England
2013-14 Ohio State University, ‘Visiting Scholar’, Columbus, OH, USA
2013 Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2012 Corning Glass Museum, ‘Artist in Residence’, Corning, NY, USA
Neusole Glass Studios, ‘Artist in Residence’, Cincinnati, OH, USA
2011-12 Museum of Art and Design, ‘Studio Artist’, New York, NY, USA
Publications
2024 Contemporary Glass Society Magazine, ‘Fruits of Labour: A Glass Education’, by Joanna Manousis, November Edition.
Neues Glas: Art & Architecture, Issue 1/24, ‘Joanna Manousis: Casting Self-Reflection’, by Emma Crichton-Miller, Germany
2023 Colour, Material, Finish Directions 2024, Colour Hive, Mix Magazine, NY, USA
The Glass Arts Society Journal TACOMA, ‘Mirrors of the Third Dimension by Joanna Manousis, Seattle, WA, USA
2022 New Glass Review 42, Corning Glass Publication, NY, USA
2020 Glass Quarterly Magazine, Winter Edition No. 161, Focus Review by Lindsay Woodruff, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2019 Traditional Home Magazine, September Edition, ‘Movers and Makers’, by Clara Haneberg, New York, USA
Cultured Magazine, February Edition (Online), ‘Joanna Manousis on Extracting Narratives from Glass’, by Simone Sutnick, Miami, FL, USA
E-Merge / E-Volve 2019, Bullseye Glass, Portland, OR, USA
2017 Cast: Art and Objects Made Using Humanity’s Most Transformational Process, by Townsend, Zettle-Sterling, Schiffer Publishing, PA, USA
British Glass Biennale, Ruskin Glass Center, England
2015 American Art Collector Magazine, August Edition, ‘Joanna Manousis: Reflected’, by Susie J Silbert, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
2014 Glass Quarterly Magazine, Winter Edition, Review of The Dominant Sophia by Gerar Edizel, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Coburg Glass Preis 2014, Schnell + Steiner, Germany
Expressions in Glass, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
2013 Glass Quarterly Magazine, Summer Edition, New York, USA
2012 American Craft Magazine, August Edition, Minneapolis, MI, USA
New Glass Review 33, ‘Important Acquisitions’, Corning Glass Publication, USA
2011 Glassified, 25 Years of Contemporary Glass from Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
New Glass Review 32, Corning Glass Publication, NY, USA
Breath Taking, Innovation in British Glass Blowing, Crafts Council, London
Art in Craft Media, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
2010 E-Merge 2010, Bullseye Glass, Portland, OR, USA
2009 Glass Quarterly Magazine, Fall Edition, New York, USA
Glass Arts Society Newsletter, Frabel Award Winner, March Edition, WA USA
Beads and Beyond, Featured Artist Profile, April Edition
The Lace Guild, ‘Feature Artist’, Issue 133, January Edition
2008 British Glass Biennale, Ruskin Glass Center, England
2007 New Glass Review 28, Corning Glass Publication, NY
Public Collections
2007 Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Ebeltoft, Denmark
European Museum of Modern Glass, Rödental, Germany
Ernsting Stiftung Alter Hof Herding, Coesfeld, Germany
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
The Ringling Museum of Art, Sarisota, Florida, USA
ProMedica, Toledo, Ohio, USA
Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Yervan, Armenia
Toyama Glass Institute, Toyama, Japan
Aichi University, Aichi, Japan
Teaching Experience
2018 College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI - Instructor: Glass
2014-2016 Ohio State University, Columbus, OH - Instructor: Glass
2010-2011 Instructor: Glass, Alfred University, Alfred. NY
2008-2010 Alfred University, New York, USA, Graduate Teaching Fellow – Foundations / Sculpture
Lectures / Workshops
2023 Penland Mountain School of Crafts, Penland, NC – Instructor
The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY – Instructor
2021 – Present Warm Glass, Bristol, UK – Online Instructor
2019 The Chrysler Museum, Perry Glass Studio, Norfolk, VA – Instructor
The Toledo Museum of Art, Glass Pavilion, Toledo, OH – Instructor
Bullseye Glass & Co., San Francisco/ Los Angeles CA - Instructor
2018 SOFA Expo, Navy Pier Festival Hall, Chicago, IL - Lecture
Bullseye Glass & Co., San Francisco, CA - Instructor
D & L Glass Supply, Denver, CO - Instructor
The Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA - Instructor
The Royal College of Arts, London – Visiting Lecturer
The California College for the Arts, San Francisco, CA– Visiting Lecturer
2017 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA - Instructor
Art Glass Studios, Perth, Australia - Instructor
Blue Dog Glass Studios, Melbourne, Australia - Instructor
Bullseye Glass & Co., San Francisco, CA / New York, NY - Instructor
2016 Penland Mountain School of Crafts , Penland, NC - Instructor
The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY - Instructor
Anoka Ramsey Community College, Grand Rapids, MI - Instructor
Bullseye Glass & Co., Portland, OR / Santa Fe, NM - Instructor
2015 Bullseye Glass & Co., Portland, OR - Instructor
Glass Arts Society Conference, San Jose, CA - Lec-Mo Demonstrator
2014 The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY - Instructor
The Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA - Instructor
2013 Wolverhampton University, England - Visiting Lecturer
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH - Visiting Lecturer
2012 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA - Visiting Lecturer
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, Visiting Lecturer
Twyford C of E Secondary School, London, England – Visiting Lecturer
2010 University of Miami, Miami, FL - Visiting Lecturer
2009 Toyama Glass Institute, Toyama, Japan - Visiting Lecturer
Aichi University, Aichi, Japan - Visiting Lecturer
2008 University of Miami, Miami, FL - Visiting Lecturer
Professional Organizations
GAS / Contemporary Glass Society of America
CGS / British Glass Society
Homo Faber Guide
The Queen Elizabeth Trust
Northern Bridge Consortium