INTRO
Maria Maneos is a Philadelphia-based visual artist whose work explores the intersection of memory, mythology, and lived experience. Through immersive installations, painting, and mixed media, she examines the emotional and psychological landscapes that shape identity.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work merges personal narrative with broader social themes, particularly those surrounding mental health, addiction, and incarceration. I am drawn to the psychological forces that shape human behavior—how memory, trauma, and resilience coexist within us.
Through immersive environments and layered imagery, I create spaces where viewers are invited to reflect, confront, and connect. Projects like Under the Microscope transform personal experience into collective dialogue, exploring what is often hidden, stigmatized, or misunderstood.
At the same time, my painting practice explores mythological and symbolic landscapes—spaces where ancient narratives and contemporary emotions intersect. Across all mediums, my work seeks to bridge the internal and external worlds, revealing how deeply intertwined they are.
BIO
Maria Maneos holds a BFA from Arcadia University and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her work has been exhibited in galleries, universities, and museums, with a strong presence in the Philadelphia region.
Her immersive sculpture Under the Microscope received First Place in Sculpture at the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Art of the State exhibition in 2023. Her earlier work, 5535-2017, also received First Place and the Purchase Prize in 2018 and is now part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Maneos is a former fellow of the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and a recipient of the Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant. She is the founder of Brush With the Law, a nonprofit organization that uses art to engage incarcerated individuals and communities impacted by mental health and addiction.
Her practice continues to evolve as both a personal exploration and a form of social engagement—bridging art, advocacy, and storytelling.
