Artist Statement
Working primarily in sculpture, textiles, and installation, Timothy Manalo explores the dissonances between knowledge and the objects created to embody it. Through processes like mold-making and weaving, he plays with materiality and form with the familiar and the unfamiliar to either highlight or destabilize meaning. Central to his practice is a continuous inquiry into the nature of knowledge, especially global perspectives and the cultural shifts that shape reality.
Collectivity and the aesthetics of gathering also play a significant role in Manalo’s work, often manifesting in forms that evoke or encourage interaction. The concept of the "gathering place" recurs throughout his practice, referencing sites of learning and world-building. This theme underscores how a geometric space can transform into a cultural one, articulated through objects of varying scales.
Biography
Timothy Manalo is a Toronto-based sculpture, textile, and installation artist. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD University in 2010. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked as a studio assistant and in-house sculptor for several companies specializing in custom art and design fabrication.
In 2019, Manalo completed a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, where he also earned a Certificate in Museum Studies. His work has been featured in exhibitions across Canada and the United States, including at the Canadian Sculpture Centre in Toronto and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He has also participated in artist residencies at Franconia Sculpture Park in Shafer, Minnesota, and the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn, New York. Manalo's artistic practice has also been supported by grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council. Currently, he is preparing for an upcoming solo-exhibition this Spring, at Unit 270 gallery space, in Toronto.