Dr. Raul Manzano
Dr. Raul Manzano hails from Colombia, in the city of Cali where he began his college education. In 1980, he migrated to the United States after spending one year in college in Colombia. He brags that both countries have a special place in his heart, as they have contributed to his cultural and professional growth. He graduated from The School of Visual Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts from SUNY/Empire State College. He holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Museum Studies from Union Institute & University.
Dr. Manzano is an artist, author and scholar. His paintings have been shown in consulates, museums, galleries, and community centers nationally and internationally, in Canada, Spain and Israel. His scholarly and professional activities include his first drawing book publication entitled, Baby Steps to Drawing; peer reviewed essays, newsletters, articles, illustrations for books, scholarly journals and magazine covers. He has presented at conferences in universities, served as juror for exhibition panel committees, and lectured at leading New York City museums to his students and faculty.
Most of Dr. Manzano’s artwork is focused on socio-cultural, diversity, equality, environmental and political issues. He believes art as a form of expression foments dialog, engages and informs communities, creates awareness, provokes thought, and encourages social change. Social change brings awareness to people’s rights, self-empowerment and education. He has exhibited on these subjects.
Dr. Manzano has and continues to give back to his community. For instance:
At his solo exhibition under the auspices of the Colombian Consulate in Toronto, Canada, he has donated proceeds from the sales of his work to help the victims of the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz volcano disaster in Armero, Colombia.
In 1995, Dr. Manzano joined the West Side Arts Coalition, a nonprofit organization for emerging artists on the Upper Westside of Manhattan. He held the presidency for this organization from 1996 – 2001; and has had the opportunity to interact with the community, businesses, local and international leaders. This experience led to a collaborative venture between Upper West Side and Ashkelon, Israel.
In 2000, members of West Side Arts Coalition were able to exhibit their works in Ashkelon, Israel under the auspices of Ashkelon's Mayor, Benny Vaknin, who recognized Dr. Manzano’s work by awarding him The Medal of the City, for his service to the arts.
Since 2000, he has been the Resident Director of the School of Visual Arts' "Painting in Barcelona," summer program in Barcelona, Spain.
In 1996, he was a participant in the exhibition for AIDS Awareness held at the Broadway Mall Community Center in New York City.
From 2000 - 2002, Dr. Manzano has curated exhibitions in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in collaboration with Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields.
In 2001, he participated in the exhibition Prevailing Human Spirit for The Society of Illustrators in New York City to raise funds for 9/11 charity causes under the auspices of the New York Times.
In 2006, his artworks auctioned to raise money at two major events in New Jersey and New York. The proceeds from these events benefitted the Verizon’s New York Hispanic Support Organization Scholarship Fund, and the non-profit Long Island for Colombia’s Proyecto Buenaventura 2006 - housing for the poor.
Dr. Manzano has received recognition awards for his contribution to the arts and Latino culture from Associación de Hijos y Amigos de Colombia and Farleigh Dickinson University, along with nominations and other awards for several art competitions.
Additionally, he has organized exhibitions at the Arsenal Gallery, in Central Park, NYC public libraries, and the Manhattan Borough President’s Gallery.
In addition to all of that, for the past 14 years, Dr. Manzano has been a faculty member and mentor at a SUNY institution in the Arts and Humanities School where he teaches adult learners in his expert area of the arts. He has also hosted exhibitions showcasing students’ work, especially in celebrating significant activities representing Black History, Caribbean Heritage, and Hispanic Heritage.