Amanda Manitach is a Seattle-based, self-taught artist whose drawing practice emerged in early childhood: making pictures on the back of church bulletins provided reprieve from the boredom of enduring sermons delivered weekly by her father. After earning a degree in literature, Manitach eventually returned to making art and has developed a practice that interweaves language with intensive, obsessive, often meditative mark-making, using a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil as her primary tool. The resulting drawings range in size from intimate to monumentally large, pushing the limits of her relationship with the age-old medium. Text incorporated in the work varies from screamingly profane to defiant, at one turn brimming with ache, the next bubbling with crude humor or dreaminess. The words melt into soft yet hyperactive, entangled patterns inspired by 19th century wallpaper designs.

For the past fifteen years, an integral part of Manitach’s practice has included working with and in support of the local arts community. Starting with DIY curatorial projects in neighborhood venues such as bars and apartments, she went on to work from 2012 to 2015 as curator of Hedreen Gallery at Seattle University. She spent seven years working as the visual arts editor at City Arts Magazine, as well as contributing to national arts publications covering PNW-based artists. She co-founded TMRW Party with DK Pan and The Factory with Timothy Rysdyke, two robust platforms for creative production and exhibitions. Most recently Manitach co-curated one of six exhibitions at Forest For The Trees, taking place concurrent with Seattle Art Fair. Called “Howl,” this 12,000 sq. ft. exhibit served as a survey of predominantly female-identifying, non-binary, and BIPOC artists, with an additional emphasis on art commissioned by the organization Shout Your Abortion. Manitach’s work has been exhibited at the Frye Art Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, and Tacoma Art Museum. She is the recipient of a Shunpike Storefronts commission, Artist Trust GAP Grant, Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs CityArtist Projects Grant, and two residencies at Jentel Arts, among others. She is represented by Winston Wachter Fine Art Seattle and Winston Wachter New York.