Today we’d like to introduce you to Manni Mora.
Hi Manni, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Memories of my father painting murals on our little house in Laredo. Flowers, cacti, whales—whatever figures came to mind in the moment would find their way onto our walls. It didn’t matter to him that his flowers looked a little wilted and withered, or his cacti a little dry and shriveled, or his whales a little blue and bloated. What mattered to him was the joy he derived from creating something colorful and new for himself and for his family. Though he never invited me to paint with him, watching my father’s artistic adventures planted a seed within me that would later grow into my own love for art—a love that I have nurtured on my own, a love that has seen me through tough times, and a love that I hope to share with others.
It wasn’t until the age of twenty-one that I felt inspired to paint by a memory of an epiphany I had when I was sixteen in rehab dealing with severe depression. I was observing a tree during winter in the common area while journaling. At first glance, a tree may seem inanimate and insignificant. In reality, though, a single tree can mean so much to a range of life forms, offering anything from a home to microbes at scales unseen, to a source of sustenance in the fruits we eat and the air we breathe. In this moment I felt a chill run through my spine, like a light switch being turned on, I saw the bigger picture. This very moment was the beginning of my recovery. It was only years later that I was able to transform this inspiration into my first painting, nothing other than my own interpretation of the Tree of Life. Since then, I had only painted intermittently until the tail end of 2019, when I decided to commit myself more wholly to honing my artistic skill. The ensuing outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, though, and the sociopolitical reckoning that our country has been facing since then have both truly sparked within me a need to create beauty not only for the sake of personally preserving sanity and processing the tumultuous events around me, but also to help support those in need, as I have dedicated a portion of all proceeds from each commission to various charities, including the Central Texas Food Bank, the Trevor Project, etc. Indeed, I believe that art is not only a mode of self-expression but also a way to engage with the world around us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve been told by several people that my art is all over the place. That I don’t have a “signature.” That if I ever wanted to make it, I should just stick to one style so it can be more commercially appealing. For this reason, I have lost many opportunities to have my paintings in different venues, especially stores and shops. This is a battle for me because I find doing the same style over and over like a machine unfulfilling. I tried to do this for a little while, but the whole process was becoming mind-numbing, and I felt my art no longer had a heart. After almost giving up, I came to a realization: I may not have a “signature” but being all over the place is me. Creating all styles of work truly makes me happy.
I have since moved past the idea of trying to get my artwork into a store and have instead entered the world of vending. Over 50 art markets later, I am happy creating whatever I please. I get to meet so many people who I can connect with and have heartfelt chats about my art inspired by mental health. Though packing and unpacking for market after market is a challenge in itself, I have become addicted to them. The commitment of a full-time job and relationship surely add to the pressure, though my partner is very supportive, for which I am grateful. Furthermore, I feel that, in order to make it in a city saturated with so many talented artists, I have to overextend myself to get ahead. In other words: finding personal time has been hard. Turning down gatherings with friends has been tough since I am always creating for the next event. I say to myself, this will pay off one day, and I look forward to what the future holds.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I am proud of is my self-expression. My artwork tends to draw inspiration from my emotional experience and topics of mental health. I feel those pieces spark a meaningful conversation that on some occasions ends up being like a tearful therapy session. Some of my work has a deep dark inspiration behind it, but I choose to use vibrant colors to balance out the subject matter. In general, though, I think I am known for creating all types of styles. From space theme, pop art and so on. I love to combine all media when I create art, from acrylic, resin, charcoal to plaster and anything shiny I want to stick on.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future would be to have my own gallery and space to create and make a mess. Making everything from my little bedroom has been a challenge. I want a space where I can continue to evolve and enter other arenas like sculpture and creating art installations. I want this space to also have room for other artists, artists that may have been overlooked due to their ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. As a gay man of color, it is important to note that diverse representation in the art world is still a significant issue, which is something I would like to help to change,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Beautifully_Chaotic_Art
- Instagram: @beautifully_chaotic_art
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Manni86Interrupted
