Manifest was founded in-part to stand for the importance of drawing as a process, skill, and discipline, and as a continuing viable product of the creative fine art and design fields. Since its inception our organization has continued to incorporate drawing-based programming, including education (Drawing Center), publications (INDA), and gallery exhibits into the broader spectrum of its projects. The students and professors who formed Manifest in 2004 knew that despite their diverging career paths (architecture, art history, painting, industrial design, photography) they were brought together because of their connection to drawing and their mutually intense but multi-faceted pursuit of this fundamental discipline.
In honor of the original spirit of the founding ideals of Manifest, the gallery launched DRAWN as a new annual exhibition project marking the organization’s 10th season. DRAWN seeks to survey and present the broad scope of drawing being made today. This gallery exhibit is completely separate from the annual INDA publication project.
DRAWN calls for artists to submit works of drawing in any media relevant to the practice (including non-traditional approaches), any style, and any genre (fine art, illustration, design, conceptual, realism, etc.).
This exhibit has no predefined expectation for type or style of work to be considered or selected. Submissions can range from the most traditional to the most conceptual or experimental. The only criteria beyond excellent quality is that works must qualify as drawing, including that which tests the boundaries of the discipline.