S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino, submitted artwork
S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino
Painting
The Greater Washington DC Region
Born just outside of Philadelphia, Manya’s love of art led to undergraduate studies at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia College of Art) and graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Painting where she earned an BFA and MFA respectively. Her primary residence is currently in the Greater Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Her work is best known for its strong gestural animation and the sense of events unfolding - it exists somewhere between representational and non-representational abstraction and primarily takes the form of paintings. Early in her career, Manya spent several extended periods of time working independently in Italy. The time spent studying many great works around her solidified her love of the figure, light and transcendent narratives. Following her love of movement, she worked as a strength coach and fitness professional while raising children and maintaining her daily studio practice. Though the number of works available to the public has been limited over the years, Manya’s work is included in many private collections. While generally expressionistic in nature, her work lives outside of the confines of any particular movement or time period.
Works
S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino, submitted artwork
My work is driven by movement, energy, and unfolding events, rooted in gestural, intuitive expression. Even in quiet moments, tension simmers beneath the surface. While seemingly chaotic, an underlying order anchors my process. Organic forms shift and transform, revealing and obscuring figures within emotional landscapes and man-made structures. Though steeped in western painting traditions, I embrace a multidisciplinary approach, guided by material and meaning. Life’s shared genetic and evolutionary history deeply informs my work, reflecting themes of flux, transformation, and human estrangement from nature. Through graphic elements and shifting narratives, I explore the tension between our impact on the world and our place within it. My art invites viewers to experience life’s rhythms and possibilities, planting seeds of awareness and connection.
