Steven Antonio Manes

Steven Antonio Manes (°1993) is a contemporary artist who follows his intuition in his practice. He obtained his master's degree in sculpture at Sint-Lucas in Ghent (2017). In addition to abstract sculptures in clay, plaster, metal and found materials, he makes expressive drawings with wallpaint, oilpastels and graphite, mainly on paper.

As a source of inspiration he uses his own world, the urge to create, the questioning of his individuality and the transience of life. At the root of this lies an ongoing conflict between reason and emotion. Steven Antonio Manes puts his individuality in his work in a characterful way and opens it up universally. Thanks to the freedom that art offers, the artist can fearlessly show who he really is.

His works are a sort of legacy to him that remind him of different phases in his life. Consequently, art not only functions as an expressive outlet, but it’s also an autobiographical proof of his existence. His Italian origin also plays an important role in his work. In his native language, he can express himself in a most pure and spontaneous way. Steven Antonio's connection to the southern Italian landscape is also reflected in his work as an element of earthliness; abstract rock formations, hot temperatures, the wild sea, ... Art-historically, he’s mainly inspired by Abstract and Neo-Expressionism and from the Italian Arte Povera movement.