"Light" by Robert Maniscalco
The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that concurrent exhibitions of painting work by Robert Maniscalco (Charleston) and mixed media works by Diane Wager Bowers (Mt. Pleasant) will be on display at Park Circle Gallery from April 1-25, 2026. The artists will host a free public reception at the gallery on Friday, April 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Identity and Self – Paintings by Robert Maniscalco
In his exhibit, Identity and Self, Charleston-based painter Robert Maniscalco asks: Who are we at our core, after we strip away the names we call ourselves, the parties with whom we affiliate, and the causes for which we are fighting? “After all, these are all inventions of the ego, which separate us from God and the infinite,” he explains. Maniscalco describes this collection as “centering on how identity interferes with our true self, our true freedom, which is a central value for an artist, as well as any self-actualized individual.” Maniscalco is a painter of the self, always looking for something deeper than the surface representations in his subjects. It is the true self he is looking for when he paints, whether it is an orange, a sky, or a judge.
Robert Maniscalco is an accomplished artist known for his expressive realism, a style rooted in the classical traditions of masters such as Rembrandt and Sargent. His work is characterized by the nuanced use of light, bold brushwork, and a deep exploration of the psyche and emotional expression of his subjects. Born in Detroit in 1959 to renowned portrait artist Joseph Maniscalco, Robert apprenticed with his father and began his career taking commissions while studying music at Wayne State University. His artistic journey led him to New York City, where he expanded his talents to acting, directing, and music, including performances at Carnegie Hall and founding The New Renaissance Chamber Artists.
Throughout his career, Maniscalco has worn many creative hats: artist, author, actor, musician, and advocate. After establishing the Maniscalco Gallery in Detroit and hosting the PBS series Art Beat, he became a prominent cultural figure in the region. He has published several books, including the Amazon #1 bestseller The Power of Positive Painting. Now based in Charleston, SC, Maniscalco continues to create art, music, and literature that celebrate resilience and the transformative power of creativity. Learn more about the artist at maniscalcogallery.com.
"Playhouse III" by Diane Wager Bowers
The Art of Construction – Mixed Media Works by Diane Wager Bowers
Diane Wager Bowers’ visual interpretation of the world is informed by patterns and nature. The constructs of poetry and math, with their inherent rhythms and unique ability to describe the world, also inform her visual arts endeavors, as her eye naturally reduces what she sees to its essence: lines, textures, patterns of shape and color. Her concern for sustainability motivated her to use salvaged construction materials to create the latest work featured in her exhibit, The Art of Construction. They include multimedia pieces and pastel works on paper and on building materials. Diane also documented construction processes through a series of photographs, interpreting the projects through her unique artistic vision. She found beauty everywhere, often in unexpected places—on the inside wall of a dumpster, for example—and noticed the many ways in which construction materials mirrored elements of the natural world. Through her lived experience and her passion for creativity, Diane expresses her love of nature and her feeling for our common humanity through her art.
Diane’s fascination for art and nature began during her childhood of hiking and camping in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. There, she encountered an environment rich with patterns: ferns, fir cones, cedar bark, and rocks at a river’s edge. Her artistic style is informed by keen observation, a passion for science and poetry, and diverse experiences living in Kenya, England, and France. These influences fuel her exploration of themes such as humanity, nature, and sustainability in her art. Diane is recognized for her innovative use of salvaged materials, particularly her technique of screen-printing and layering pastels using lath, as well as creating wax rubbings for rich texture. Her work is characterized by a sense of wonder, balance, and movement, often reflecting her love of science and math. She currently lives and works in Mount Pleasant, SC.
The Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. Admission is free, and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue in front of the gallery, as well as on the adjacent streets and in parking lots close by. Gallery hours are 10:30 am-5:30 pm Wednesday-Friday, and Noon-4:00 pm on Saturday. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.