MFA, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 2010
BFA, Arcadia University, 2006
Awards & Grants
• First Prize, Sculpture, Art of the State, PA State Museum, Harrisburg, PA (2023)
• Art of the State Purchase Prize, PA State Museum, Harrisburg, PA (2018)
• First Prize, Sculpture, PA State Museum, Harrisburg, PA (2018)
• First Prize, Painting, Ambler Arts Center, Ambler, PA (2018)
• Kutztown University Outstanding Mentor in Alternative Settings Award (2017)
• Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant Recipient (2014)
• PA Council on the Arts Grant Recipient (2014–2023)
• The Pollination Project Grant Recipient (2015–2019)
Fellowship
Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA) Fellow, Philadelphia, PA (2020–2022)
Selected Exhibitions
- Revolutionary Women, Abington Art Center, Abington, PA (2026)
- Spectalia, Pen & Brush Gallery, New York, NY (2026)
- Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA (2026)
- A Scrutiny Mutiny, Hook Experiment, Oxford, PA (2025)
- Hidden in Plain Sight,(two-person exhibition), The Art Lab, York, PA (2025)
- Art of the State (First Prize Sculpture), State Museum of PA, Harrisburg, PA (2023)
- CFEVA, Philadelphia POST, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA (2021)
- Together We Can Make a Difference, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA (2020)
- Fleisher Wind Challenge (2nd Round), Philadelphia, PA (2019)
- 51st Annual Art of the State, State Museum of PA, Harrisburg, PA (2018)
- The Art of Recovery, Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown, PA (2017)
- The Woman Represented, International House, Philadelphia, PA (2012)
Community Involvement
• Board Member, Public Defenders Advisory Board of Montgomery County, Norristown, PA (Current)
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Alumni Council (2018–2021)
• Grant Panelist, PA Council on the Arts / Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (2015–2018)
• Founder & Director, Brush With the Law (2013–Present)
Professional Experience
• Founder & Director, Brush With the Law — community-based public arts and reentry program, Philadelphia, PA (2013–Present)
• Grant Advisor, The Pollination Project, Arts & Culture Division (2016–2020)
• Mural Arts Restorative Justice Program, Graterford Maximum Security Prison (2017–2018)
• Instructor, University of Pennsylvania Center for Rehabilitation, Philadelphia, PA (2010–2013)
Selected Bibliography
• “Make it more beautiful”: Mural installed at Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler — The Reporter (2021)
• PA Art of the State Sculpture Spotlights 5535 — PennLive (2018)
• Maria Maneos on Incarceration and the Opioid Crisis — Paula Cahill Blog (2018)
• Art on Trial — Psychology Today (2015)
• Montco Jail Art Class — The Philadelphia Inquirer (2015)
Speaking Engagements
TEDx Speaker, “The Big Idea,” Arcadia University, Glenside, PA (2017)
Learn more about Maria Maneos on the About page, view selected sculpture projects, or contact the artist for exhibition and press inquiries.