Surreal portrait of woman - Its my party and I'll cry if I want to

Artist statement:
"In the delicate tapestry of life, 'It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To' captures a profound chapter of my journey. On the eve of my 29th birthday, an unexpected call from the hospital revealed a diagnosis that forever altered my path—I had appendix cancer.

The initial shock left me feeling disconnected from my own body, yet amidst the roller coaster of emotions, I made a conscious decision to celebrate life. This artwork is a visual chronicle of that pivotal moment; a testament to resilience.

As an artist, I weave together the threads of my personal narrative with universal themes that resonate with viewers. 'It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To' is not just a reflection of my individual struggle; it's an exploration of the human experience, encapsulating both monumental life events and the nuanced beauty found in everyday moments.

This artwork was exhibited in my solo exhibition, 'Mid-sentence' at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough, QLD in April 2022.

It was carefully drawn with high quality artist pencils on 200gsm artist paper.
This artwork is framed in a white A2 sized frame with D hooks attached ready for your wall.

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Shanay Manitzky is an Australian figurative artist whose practice draws inspiration from personal experiences, reminiscent of an intimate “Dear diary”. Her recent works explore the relationship between people and objects, navigating the boundary between the real and surreal.

Manitzky completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College of Fine Arts & Design, Auckland, NZ in 2013 and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching at University of Auckland in 2014.
She currently teaches Visual Arts & Dance at Aldridge SHS, Maryborough as well as running artist workshops for the Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Manitzky has exhibited her work at numerous galleries including Aspire Gallery, Brisbane, Gatakers Art Space, Maryborough, Art Lovers Australia, Melbourne and Pearce Gallery, NZ.

Manitzky recently won the drawing section in the Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi (2023), a finalist in the Omnia Art Prize, Melbourne (2024) and the Bluethumb Art Prize (2023, 2022).

Manitzky has been commissioned by the Fraser Coast Regional Council to produce permanent artworks for the Maryborough, QLD.

Shanay Manitzky is represented by Aspire Gallery, Brisbane.