Manju Shandler - Joan

Joan, 2019, mixed media 19 x 6 x 6

I create symbolic art that speaks to current events. Building upon established storylines from myth, religion, science, and contemporary events my mixed media artworks create a richly layered narrative reflective of our dense and complicated times.

In our society it has become subversive to be both a culture maker and a mother over 40. Often there is an expectation that mothers must sacrifice our intelligence and ambition once we give birth, that somehow bearing children marginalizes our voices and abilities. Persistent Mothers features female figures as a rebellion against the idea that a mother’s voice and rights must be sacrificed by our gender role.

Persistent Mothers features multiple figures that exhibit the ferial quality of those victorious after battle as well as the peace of individuals ready to hand the baton to the next generation. Each of these figures is an abstracted likeness of myself.

About the Artist:

Manju Shandler has had solo shows at The Pelham Art Center, Corte Dell’Arte in Venice Italy, Brown University's Sarah Doyle Gallery, The Hammond Museum, The Honfleur Gallery, The Governor’s Island Art Fair, The Bergdorf Goodman Store Windows and multiple group shows throughout the US, Amsterdam, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. She regularly shows in her community of Brooklyn, NY. The National September 11th Memorial & Museum exhibited 850 paintings from Shandler's 3,000-piece painting installation, GESTURE, in an exhibition honoring the 15th anniversary of this tragedy. She has a B.A. in Performing Visual Art from Bennington College (1995).