Mana Contemporary Launches World's First Permanent Museum of Urban Art

JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ Mana Contemporary is proud to announce its newest development, the Mana Museum of Urban Arts. The museum, with a focus on street art and graffiti, will be the first of its kind and will be located in a 100,000-square-foot former ice factory near the Holland Tunnel entrance.

The Mana Museum of Urban Arts' mission includes: showcasing contemporary street artists from around the world through rotating interior exhibitions, large-scale exterior murals, and through an artist billboard; documenting and preserving historically significant works with a permanent collection and media center; educational outreach; and fostering creativity and community among artists through workshops, artist studios, and public works.

Eugene Lemay, founder and director of Mana Contemporary, originally conceived the flagship building as a street art museum, so the announcement of the Mana Museum of Urban Arts brings his vision full-circle. Lemay has brought on veteran street artists Logan Hicks and Joe Iurato to curate the programming. Artists selected by Iurato and Hicks will be given the support and opportunity to create works as large and as ambitious as they can conceive.

"Mana Contemporary is about creating an artist community, and I am excited to bring this potent and authentic art form and the community surrounding it to Mana," said Lemay. "We are changing the art world status quo by giving the artists leadership roles."

"This is long overdue for one of the most significant art movements of our time," says Iurato. "For me, it's not just about housing a spectacular collection of art. It's about community, roots, and being a catalyst for future artists. Mana is approaching this project with the integrity and respect that these art forms deserve."

Construction is expected to begin in June 2014 on the Mana Museum of Urban Arts at 581 Monmouth Street, Jersey City, NJ, and public programming is expected to begin in September 2014.

About Logan Hicks:
Logan Hicks is a New York-based stencil artist. A pioneer in the stenciling community, he is known for his large scale, photorealistic approach to the medium. He has exhibited in 25 countries including Hong Kong, Melbourne, Oslo, Paris, London, as well as throughout the U.S. He has curated numerous projects over the years and founded the Workhorse Collective in 1995.

About Joe Iurato:
Joe Iurato is a New Jersey-based street artist. His placement-specific photography of stenciled works blurs the line between art and performance. He has curated events such as the Aqueduct Racing track artist mural program, as well as working with corporate clients such as ESPN, Nike, NBA, NFL, and others. He is also a sommelier.

About Mana Contemporary:
Mana Contemporary is a leading arts destination with locations in Jersey City and Chicago. Studios, exhibition spaces, art services, and programming provide an unparalleled environment for creating and experiencing art. By exposing and exploring the artistic process, Mana Contemporary offers an exciting way to discover and learn about art while artists are enabled to experiment and collaborate across all disciplines, forms, and media. Mana Contemporary is home to the Richard Meier Model Museum, Gary Lichtenstein Editions, the Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation, the Middle East Center for the Arts, Shen Wei Dance Arts, the Keating Foundry, and more. For more information about Mana Contemporary, please visit www.manacontemporary.com.

SOURCE Mana Contemporary