Born in the southeastern US during the tensions of the Cold War, Ryl Mandus now lives and works in the Pacific Northwest.
About the Artist
Mandus's tireless fascination with the human figure dominates her work. Her sensual depictions of the nude form are composed within narrative frameworks, surrounded by the elements of story. Lately her focus on the human condition -- particularly on human consciousness -- has sharpened, urging Mandus to more closely examine her observations of humanity through her art.
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Untitled Study
2006 Acrylics on Panel 10x14.3
When Shadows Bleed - No.1
2008 Mixed Media on Cradled Panel 30x30
Education and biography
A direct result of the frustrations of the academic lifestyle, Mandus dropped out of college [twice]. Her art training became self-inflicted when she chose to study art privately: "It's a Hopi belief that knowledge is not given -- it must be earned. No one can simply hand skill or knowledge to me, it will always come down to my own personal efforts. As Da Vinci said, 'I am a disciple of Experience.'"