Richard Manning

Richard had been a brickworks laborer, public servant, ward assistant, tram conductor 
and driver, taxi driver and a MFB firefighter. Always in the search for something else 
before finding his true vocation and beginning study in Fine Art at Monash Caulfield. 
Leading a double life he juggled obligations and swapped shifts with fellow firefighters 
to study full time and complete a diploma of fine art. 

Richard, determined to incorporate his painting led practice with his work obligations, 
painted the United Firefighters Union Banner (funded by the Australia Council) at the 
Victorian Trades Hall Council Arts Workshop in 1987. The banner is still in regular use 
by the union. 
  
In 1990 he resigned from the MFB to pursue opportunities in the area of Public Art. 
Highlights include; a residency at The Campaign for International Cooperation and 
Disarmament (CICD); being artist in residence at the Melbourne Remand Centre in 1991; 
curating one of the first NGV Access Gallery exhibitions, Inside, Outside showcasing 
work by Victorian prisoners and guest curating another NGV Access Gallery exhibition 
titled Theoretical Vogueing. Richard has worked extensively in the arts industry 
including roles with both the NGV and Museum Victoria. In 1999 Richard formed Glass 
Street gallery with co-director Mary-Ann Manning and worked closely with the 
Melbourne / North Melbourne artistic community to host a diverse catalogue of 
exhibitions and performances with local and international artists over a three year period. 

Richard maintains strong links with his location and environment actively seeking out 
proximity to the natural world. This immersion of himself in his immediate environment 
has been a characteristic of his work that previously focused on inner city Melbourne 
extending to rural and coastal Victoria. The Great Ocean Road is the environment 
explored in this current body of work. 

Richard now concentrates exclusively on his practice working from his St Kilda studio to 
further develop his vision and technique. 

Richard has exhibited his paintings widely having had nine solo exhibitions, including a 
major show at Gippsland Regional Gallery, Sale, and has participated in several group 
exhibitions. His work is collected privately both in Australia and internationally and 
forms part of the collection of a number of public organisations.