Manny Padernos was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to Singapore where he worked as an interior designer for almost 20 years. While in Singapore he began taking classes in Chinese and Western Painting at the Nanyang Academy. His passion for the visual arts led him to pursue an MFA at the New York Studio School which he completed in 2018. While at the NYSS he received scholarships from Milton and Sally Avery, Jonathan and Barbara Silver, and the Ramapo Trust and attended residencies at Chautauqua Institution School of Art, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts and the Vermont Studio Center and participated in group exhibitions in New York and Singapore.
Padernos’ current work draws on his diverse background and personal history exploring themes of migration, labor, and a sense of place and belonging. In the summer and fall of 2018 Manny will be artist in residence at Chashama North, Wassaic Project, and the Anderson Center at Tower View.