Raúl Manzano is an artist, author, educator, and scholar whose work has been exhibited internationally in consulates, museums, galleries, and cultural institutions throughout Canada, Spain, Israel, and the United States. His paintings have received awards and recognition in national and international juried exhibitions, reflecting a career dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural engagement, and social impact. Beyond the gallery setting, he shares his artistic expertise by teaching art to older adults in senior centers, fostering creativity and lifelong learning within the community.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Manzano has made significant contributions as a writer and arts professional. He is the author of a drawing book, has published peer-reviewed essays and articles, and has created illustrations for a variety of publications. His professional activities include presenting at academic and arts conferences, serving as a juror for exhibitions, and leading gallery and museum tours at major cultural institutions in New York City.
At SUNY Empire State University, Manzano has combined teaching, mentorship, and creative leadership through his work in studio art and art history. He founded the Livingston Gallery, curating exhibitions that celebrate Hispanic, Black, and Caribbean heritage and promote intercultural dialogue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-developed the interdisciplinary course COVID-19: Crisis and Resilience and led its visual arts component, guiding students in exploring the social and personal dimensions of the crisis through creative inquiry. He also created Sharing the Light for the university’s Creative Expressions initiative, a work featured in the institution’s 50th Anniversary celebration and widely showcased in university events and publications. His paintings were also featured during the university’s 2021 virtual commencement ceremony, accompanying the national anthem.
As President of the West Side Arts Coalition in New York City from 1996 to 2001, Manzano expanded the organization’s vision through exhibitions addressing contemporary social issues, including AIDS awareness, the September 11 attacks, environmental concerns, and cultural heritage. Under his leadership, the coalition presented exhibitions at venues such as the Manhattan Borough President’s Gallery, the Arsenal Gallery, and public libraries throughout New York City. He also co-organized the organization’s first international exhibition at the Khan Museum in Ashkelon, Israel, where he was honored with the Medal of the City by Mayor Benny Vaknin.
His honors include a grant from the Puffin Foundation, Ltd. for his solo exhibition In the Eye of the Beholder; multiple grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supporting arts programs for older adults; a Second Prize award for Seeking Freedom, Seeking Hope at the Dynamic Exhibition at the d’Art Center; and additional merit and recognition awards from institutions including the College of the Sequoias, the Center for Contemporary Arts, the VIEW Center for Arts and Culture, Asociación de Hijos y Amigos de Colombia, and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Throughout his career, Manzano has used art as a vehicle for community engagement and philanthropy. He participated in the Prevailing Human Spirit exhibition benefiting September 11 charities, co-curated an AIDS awareness exhibition, donated proceeds from his first Toronto exhibition to support victims of the Armero tragedy in Colombia, and contributed to fundraising initiatives for the Verizon New York Hispanic Support Organization Scholarship Fund and Long Island for Colombia’s Proyecto Buenaventura housing initiative.
Manzano’s artistic practice explores the intersections of personal experience, cultural heritage, and community, drawing on the diversity of his upbringing and a deep commitment to social responsibility. Through themes of memory, identity, belonging, and social justice, his work transforms personal narratives into broader conversations about equity and shared humanity. By fostering empathy, dialogue, and reflection, his paintings demonstrate the power of art to bridge cultural divides and inspire meaningful change.
He holds a Doctor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Museum Studies from Union Institute & University, a Master of Arts from SUNY Empire State University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, where he was the resident director of the program “Painting in Barcelona” from 2000-2017.
