A beautifully written bio see the "High Profile" in the Post & Courier

Short Biographical Sketch

Since 1980, Robert Maniscalco's exquisite commissioned portraits and fine art have become part of over 850 distinguished private and public collections throughout North America. Robert has created portraits of a number of prominent individuals, including Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive (Michigan),L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive and Detroit's beloved news anchor, Carmen Harlan. Among others, Justices Blair Moody, Eugene Black, Edward Sharpe and Augustus Woodward of the Michigan Supreme Court; Judges Horace Gilmore, Cornelia Kennedy and Anna Diggs-Taylor of the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; Patrick M. Schott, Dennis A Barry, Chief Judges of the 4th Curcuit Court of Appeals-Louisiana. In addition, Maniscalco has rendered Chris Noth, star of TV's "Sex and the City"; Gilda Radner; William McNary,

Chairman of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; James Tottis, Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Mike and Marian Ilitch, founders of Little Caeser's Pizza, Richard Fontaine, President of Barnes and Noble; Jerry Zucker, Governor and CEO of Hudsons Bay Company; John Weinman, Ambassador to Finland; and E. Ray Scott, Executive Director Emeritus of the Michigan Council of the Arts to name only a few of the amazing individuals for whom he has created world-class portraits.

Born in Detroit in 1959, he is the son of internationally renowned portrait artist Joseph Maniscalco, with whom he apprenticed during the early 1980's. He moved to New York City in 1986 where he continued his studies as well as his professional activities, working on commissions all over the United States. He returned to Detroit in 1997 after a three year residency in New Orleans. In Detroit he founded the Maniscalco Gallery, which showcased many local and international artist. As host of "Art Beat," the critically acclaimed PBS series on Detroit Public Television, he explored the creative process with his celebrated guests. He has created two DVDs on painting portraits, called "The Power of Positive Painting" and published a novel, "The Fishfly."

Robert is also an accomplished musician, actor, writer and teacher. A true Renaissance man, he put himself through music and acting school by painting portraits. Though his creative muse has taken many forms he has discovered a common thread which connects them all together. Robert speaks to the basic need we all share to communicate aesthetically. He shares his remarkable path toward personal growth and creative self-expression in his new book, "Point of Art." As a fine artist, Robert has created several bodies of work, including "Faces of China," "Italia," and a series of pastels on velour entitled "Chromo Sapien." He has begun work on a series of paintings depicting the low country in and around Charleston, SC. Robert currently lives in South Carolina where he continues his work and where he is raising his two wonderful children, Danny and Mary.

Extended Biographical Sketch

Robert Maniscalco grew up in a home filled with of music, acting and of course, lots of drawing and painting. He recalls as a child sitting on his father's lap for hours as he worked at his easel. His father, internationally renowned portrait painter, Joseph Maniscalco, would occasionally let him "skumble in" the large background areas of his canvasses. Rob sold his first painting, a copy of David's Napoleon on horseback, when he was seven for three dollars–he asked for five. It was his first lesson into the real workings of the art world.

At 19 he began his formal apprenticeship with his father, earning enough money painting to put himself through music school. In 1983, Rob received a bachelor of Music at Wayne State University, where he was principal clarinet in the symphonic band and orchestra in the first university concert tour of China. After graduation Robert was drawn to acting in 1984, performing the role of Mozart in "Amadeus" with the Grosse Pointe Theatre.

In 1986 he moved to New York City and completed an intensive Professional Actor Training program at Circle in the Square Theater. In New York he performed in over 50 stage, television and film productions. He was a member of several award-winning arts organizations, including the contemporary music/theatre ensemble, New Renaissance Chamber Artists, where he participated in the creation and performance of several groundbreaking multi-media works; he made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1991. Robert's time in NYC culminated in a one-person exhibition of fine art and portraiture at the Limner Gallery in SOHO in 1992. In 1995 he took up residency in New Orleans, where he focused on his commissioned portrait career.

In 1997 Rob returned to Detroit to open the Maniscalco Gallery, where he created and exhibited his portraits and fine artwork along with other exceptionally talented local and international fine artists. The Maniscalco Gallery gained a national reputation for presenting excellent exhibitions, along with arts events devoted to the exploration of the senses and artistic transformation. Rob took a leading role in Detroit's arts community as well. He has Chaired the Arts Committee on the Board of Directors at the Scarab Club of Detroit and is past President of the Wayne County Council for Arts, History & Humanities. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors for the Wayne State College of Fine and Performing Arts. He has taught painting and drawing at College for Creative Studies, University of Detroit/Mercy, Adult Learning Institute and the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. In 1996 he released an instructional video on portrait painting and teaches workshops nationwide entitled, "The Power of Positive Painting®" - available through the Metropolitan Museum's gift shop.

Rob was host of ART BEAT, the highest rated local program on PBS in SE Michigan, on WTVS, channel 56. He also was host and producer of Inside Art, on WMTV-5, which aired three times daily in Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods. Both programs explored the Detroit arts scene and the artistic process, featuring a rich variety of artists currently active in the Detroit Metropolitan community.

Maniscalco is a tireless advocate for the arts. He has written a new book, called "Pointe of Art." He maintains an online newsgroup, SCAN (South Carolina Arts Newsgroup). Rob has raised over $250,000 through donations of his art to fund-raisers and silent auctions, for medical research, homelessness and education. Among his many honors, Robert was awarded Best in Show in the Westbank Art Guild Fourth National Art Competition for his portrait of Ms. Diane Olsen.

Rob has also published The Fishfly, his critically acclaimed debut novel.

Today, Maniscalco's oil-on-canvas portraits and fine art can be found in over 850 private and public collections throughout North America. Over the past 27 years Robert has created portraits of a number of prominent individuals, most recently,n, Oakland County Executive and Detroit's beloved news anchor, Carmen Harlan. Among others, Justices Blair Moody, Eugene Black and Edward Sharpe of the Michigan Supreme Court and Judges Horace Gilmore, Cornelia Kennedy and Anna Diggs-Taylor of the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition, Maniscalco has rendered Chris Noth, star of TV's Sex and the City; William McNary, Chairman of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; James Tottis, Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Richard Fontaine, President of Barnes and Noble; John Weinman, Ambassador to Finland; and E. Ray Scott, Executive Director Emeritus of the Michigan Council of the Arts to name only a few of the amazing individuals for whom he has created dazzling portraits.

As a fine artist, Robert has created several bodies of fine art, including "Faces of China," "Italia," a series of pastels on velour entitled "Chromo Sapien" and recently he has begun work on a series of paintings depicting the low country in and around Charleston, SC.

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The Power of Positive Painting is a lively multi-media "performance art" presentation that explores the process of being a professional artist. Robert will paint a portrait using a live model chosen from the audience as an entry point into another world, the world of an art spirit. During the course of this informative and entertaining presentation Robert reveals more than his considerable technical skill. It is a personal, humorous and ultimately inspiring look into the creative process itself and the journey of an art spirit toward self-actualization.

Robert's love of singing and acting began in high school when his men's octet placed first in state competition. He went on to earn his Bachelors in music at Wayne State University in 1983 where he was principal Clarinet in the symphony band and orchestra, leading a concert tour to China in 1982. He began singing professionally in quartets and as a solist in area churches. In NYC he sang in a cabaret quartet during his professional actor training at Circle in the Square Theater, going on to premiere several original musical/drama compositions with the New Renaissance Chamber Artists. Later, while in residence in New Orleans, Robert sang with the early music ensemble, Musica da Camera (on Centour Records) and with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus. At Grosse Pointe Theatre he has won two Clarence awards for acting (Mozart in Amadeus and a double award for City of Angels and Rainmaker). Robert directed GPTs production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Smokey Joe's Cafe; he was music director for A Chorus Line and has served on the Board of Directors.

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Robert Maniscalso's main portrait page