History About Manhattan Arts International
Based in New York, NY, a leading art capital of the world, Manhattan Arts International has been a leading advocate for under-recognized and accomplished artists from around the world. Through Manhattan Arts International Renee organized exhibitions in public venues and galleries.
Renée Phillips created this website in 2000 to promote artistic excellence. Renée is a curator, author, arts advocate, and writer. (Read more about her below.)
She founded Manhattan Arts International in 1983 and it became a leading art and culture magazine in New York, NY and remained in publication until 2000.
Manhattan Arts International was the only magazine that promoted emerging as well as established artists. It was also the only art magazine at the time owned and operated by a woman.
It also presented the only arts political debate in the history of NYC with government officials and leading art professions and many other art events that were attended by thousands of art enthusiasts and advocates and was televised on major news channels and broadcast on radio.
Current Activities
Manhattan Arts International maintains a curated artist membership program, online gallery, juried online exhibitions, and articles about art and artists. We provide a high quality resource for art buyers and art professionals. We conduct ongoing publicity activities via social media channels and our free weekly subscription-based email newsletter.
We encourage visitors to visit the artists’ websites, contact them directly, join them on social media, and buy their art directly from them.
After curating several exhibitions devoted to the Healing Power of Art, Renee established The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website in 2015 as an initiative of Manhattan Arts International. It maintains an online gallery and an editorial focus on healing. It is a community of artists, writers and advocates who believe ART & ARTISTS are positive catalysts for enhancing the well-being of individuals, society and the environment and have the power to bring positive change to the world.
About Renée Phillips, Founder & Director
Renée Phillips, founder of Manhattan Arts International, launched one of the first online galleries after publishing Manhattan Arts International magazine for 17 years to promote emerging artists. She has curated more than 100 exhibitions in NYC galleries, corporations, alternative spaces, and online including such venues as Lincoln Center, Doma Gallery, The First Women’s Bank, Chase Bank, Bowery Savings Bank, The Tunnel, and Studio 54.
As a public speaker Renée has presented keynote speeches and workshops in museums, galleries and colleges throughout the U.S., including New York University, Art Institute of Chicago, Heckscher Museum, New York Foundation for the Arts, ART EXPO NY, among others. As an adjunct faculty member she designed and presented a series of Art and Business classes for Marymount Manhattan College. Renee has served as Honorary Committee member for Catharine Lorillard Wolfe’s Annual Exhibition for many years.
Known as “The Artrepreneur Coach”, Renee-Phillips.com, she is a mentor and career advisor for art professionals. She has served on on the Board of Directors of New York Artists Equity Association, Women’s Studio Center, and other nonprofits.
She is also the founder, curaor and arts writer / editor of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, an online resource based on the belief that art and artists serve as catalysts for healing individuals, society and the environment. It contains an online art gallery, presents online exhibitions, and published articles about art and healing.
As an Arts Advocate she organized the first and only Arts Debate in the history of NYC with art and political leaders that received widespread TV and Radio coverage. She also served on the Board of Directors of New York Artists Equity, on the Advisory Board of the UNCF “The Art of Giving Back” and the Excellence in the Arts panel for NYC mayors. She was featured in New York Newsday as a Community leader and has been featured in Crain’s New York Business, The New York Times, and many other publications.
She is the author of several art business books and wrote six editions of “The Complete Guide to New York Art Galleries” which was in print format and was a best-selling book at Barnes & Noble and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Her art education consisted of courses at The Art Students League, American Art School and FIT in NYC, NY. As a student, to help emerging artists gain recognition, she launched “Artopia” and exhibited the work of fellow artists in galleries and alternative venues. During that time as an artist she sold her work to hundreds of private collectors and corporations including Merrill Lynch, Panasonic/Sony, and Chase bank. Her art was shown in galleries primarily in New York, NY.
However, she quickly discovered her true passion was to promote other artists and bring positive change to the art world.
Visit: The Artrepreneur Coach
Connect with Renee on social media:
Instagram: @renee_phillips_nyc
Facebook.com/ReneePhillipsNY
Facebook.com/ReneePhillipsArtCoach
Twitter.com/reneephillipsny
Linkedin.com/in/reneephillipsartcoach
Visit Our Online Art Gallery
Read Articles About Artist Members
Learn About All of Our Exhibitions
Read Articles About Art and Art History
Praise for Manhattan Arts International
Here is a small sampling of the many testimonials in response to our curated art programs and juried online exhibitions. It is rewarding to know how we have helped to promote the careers of thousands of artists around the world. We will continue our tradition of promoting artistic excellence.
The internet is flooded with massive online galleries that have no quality control. Thank you for creating a place on Manhattan Arts International where art lovers with standards can rely on seeing professional level artwork by artists with credentials. Keep up the great work. ~ Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Evans
After the article was posted on Manhattan Arts International I sent out several emails to announce it and sold a painting! I owe this sale to Renee and the Featured Artists Program! ~ Lisa Freidus
My husband and I have been subscribers for almost 10 years and enjoy the high quality art you show. Our favorite articles are Fascinating Facts About Members and Artist Members Spend A Day With An Artist From The Past. We also like the new article with pictures that take us into the artists’ studios. Thank you to Renee and the entire Manhattan Arts International team. ~ Melanie B. Thomas
I sold a painting to someone who saw it within a month after it appeared on the Manhattan Arts International website. ~ Miche Watkins
I sold “A Caregiver’s Pain” to a first time art buyer in Colorado after he saw the TV news segment regarding “HerStory” on NBC 9News Colorado. He and his wife is starting to collect abstract artworks. ~ Pia Pilar Reynaldo
I absolutely love the “HerStory” exhibition. As a Board Member of the New York Society of Women Artists I have been encouraging all our members to make their personal statements – to go on record for who they are and what they are about from their own mouths. Not all of us will be assigned biographers post mortem…so it is important to leave some accurate records. Your effort is great as part of this. When you open the next “HerStory” opportunity, please keep me in mind. I would love to be part of this exceptional presentation. ~ Leah Poller, Art Alliance Inc., NY NY
I am honored to be part of this exhibition alongside so many outstanding artists. I love the power, wisdom, sensibility, and intuition of women. Renee, your are a champion, your work is absolutely exquisite. ~ Debora Levy
I have been following Manhattan Arts International since 2012, enjoying the depth of artistic talent that is displayed. You are a true clear light in this world, Renee. Thank you for all you do. ~ Janice Andrews
I am absolutely thrilled with what you have created for my page. You also took my text to a higher level! I have not had this kind of support for my work since my first gallery and my family and I appreciate it. ~ Joan
Visit Our YouTube Channel
View videos that feature art from our exhibitions and from inspirational articles about art and artists. Visit our YouTube channel.