manna gallery presents

Manna Gallery is pleased to present The Ways of Water by Elaine Maute, an exhibition that explores the delicate and ephemeral nature of water's influence on art. Through her innovative technique of painting on thin cloths stretched over gessoed boards, Maute captures the ghostly, transcendent images left behind by the interplay of water, fabric, and pigment. The result is a series of works where water's natural flow and science guide the creative process, with Maute acting as an observer rather than a director of the final outcomes. Featuring both original watercolors and enlarged prints on Silk Charmeuse, this exhibition showcases Maute's mastery in enhancing the ways of water while allowing it to shape the artwork in unexpected and delightful ways.

About Elaine Maute:

Elaine Maute is an abstract artist and original partner of Manna Gallery in Oakland, where she has contributed since its founding in 2010. Growing up in Texas, she earned a BA in Art from the University of Texas, Austin, and has had a diverse career, including roles as a teacher, sailmaker, seamstress, and office manager. A member of a family of theoretical scientists, Maute’s artistic practice is deeply influenced by her fascination with abstraction, geometry, and primal shapes. Her work spans multiple mediums, including painting, collage, encaustic, 3D work, and photography, all with the intention of expressing the spirit through subtle and meaningful forms. Recently, Maute has embraced the unpredictability of accidents in her work, allowing uncontrolled elements to guide her creative process and lead to new, original expressions.