JANE MANUS

Jane Manus (American, b.1951) is an internationally renowned sculptor, who has achieved significant success and prominence in the art world with her abstract, geometric metal works. At the core of her aesthetic is the simple geometry of minimalism, but her works are also surrounded with an emotional aura that interacts with the viewer.

Manus received her BFA from Rollins College and the Art Institute of Boston. She was always interested in monumental work and eventually accepted steel as her preferred material, saying, “I like metal sculpture because of its permanence, and because you can see immediate results. You can tack or weld parts together to see what the work will look like…”

One of the few female artists in the genre of abstract geometric sculpture, Jane counts Louise Nevelson (American, 1899–1988), Louise Bourgeois (American/French, 1911–2010), and Beverly Pepper (American, b.1922) among her inspirations, as well as Piet Mondrian (Dutch, 1872–1944), Mark di Suvero (American, b.1933), and David Smith (American, 1906–1965). Architecture has always been a great inspiration as well. Her sculpture is light and playful. Made from aluminum, the works are painted in bright and bold colors, and avoid symmetry or predictability, appearing both simple and complex.

In the words of the artist herself, “As a sculptor, I am interested in exploring several aspects of three dimensional space in my work; the interaction of positive and negative spaces, the difference between frontal and side views, and the play of shadows on the surfaces surrounding the object. My work is defined by minimal abstract form; bold color; highly finished, tactile surfaces; and architectural integrity. It is about harmony with the environment and balance with the human form.”