Painting the City with Manny Vega

Join us for an intimate, watercolor workshop with the Museum’s artist-in-residence Manny Vega! 

This special art-making program is open to children ages 10+ and their families. Space is limited to 12 child participants. All materials will be provided. No experience required. 

Participants will hear from Vega about his partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that led to his 4-piece mosaic Sábado en la Ciento Diez (Saturday on 110th Street) seen in the 110th Street #6 subway station in El Barrio. Drawing inspiration from Vega’s Sábado and other artifacts from the Museum of the City of New York’s collection, participants will work with Vega to create watercolors that depict their own neighborhoods 

At the conclusion of the program, participants will be invited to share their works of art with the artist and other program participants.   

Space is limited to 12 child participants. Registration deadline: Sunday, February 18. 

Ages: children ages 10+ and their adults 

About the Artist: Manny Vega 

Manny Vega (born 1956; Bronx, New York) is a visual artist who works in various mediums including graphic design, illustration, printmaking, set and costume design, public art murals, and mosaics. 

His works are now on view in the exhibition Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega. 

Throughout the years, Mr. Vega's artistic message has been a consistent recognition of the human spirit in our daily lives. Manny's depictions of historical figures, such as Julia de Burgos and Dr. Antonia Pantoja, and his spiritual and cultural references provide a rich and accurate account of the legacy of Latinos and the diaspora at-large in this country. 

Mr. Vega was a student at the High School of Art and Design, graduating in 1974, when he was enrolled in the art workshops of El Museo del Barrio, Taller Boricua, and the Printmaking Workshop, NYC. Later, Manny was an apprentice to the muralist, Hank Prussing, who painted ''The Spirit of East Harlem.” This experience led to more mural commissions for CITYarts, United Bronx Parents, and the Bronx Council on the Arts. In 1997, he was awarded a commission from the MTA to design artwork for the 110th Street train station in East Harlem. 

Mr. Vega has worked as a consultant for Paul Simon, Shelly Rubin, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. He has exhibited extensively in the U.S. and overseas in Brazil. His mosaic portrait of Dr. Antonia Pantoja has been included in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. His next commission will be a life-size portrait statue of ''Tito Puente'' that will be installed on 5th Avenue in East Harlem.