For Les Manning, an artistic pursuit that has spanned forty years has been an all out passion and a unique introduction to the foundations of many countries, histories and their cultures.
Graduating from the ACAD, his first years were working as an apprentice and then as an independent artist and teacher until becoming a faculty member at the Banff Centre in the Visual Arts as Director of the Ceramic Studio. This position offered the opportunity to build an artist residency program, the first of its kind in Canada.
For Les the studio work continued when it could be fit in for participation in numerous exhibitions, workshops, International symposiums and assemblies which were a very necessary part of understanding and being a part of the milieu.
All of this activity has led to engagement in international advisory positions: the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (USA), Ceramics: Art & Perception magazine (Australia & USA), Sanbao Ceramic Arts Institute (Jingdezhen, China) and the Medalta International Artist in Residence Program in Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada.
A life time of such experience in the arts culminates in acceptance to group and solo exhibitions, inclusion in collections, exhibition juries and lectures, and most importantly many special friendships across continents.
