Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle’s (b. 1961) current practice creates objects that blur the line between art and utility, ultimately inviting viewers to meditate on the role and “usefulness” of art in society. His approach challenges notions of function, beauty, and purpose in art by making works that resemble utilitarian objects but often serve no conventional practical purpose—or, alternatively, reveal surprising functionality that critiques broader sociopolitical or environmental concerns. One could say that Manglano-Ovalle has a phenomenological practice (the study of how we experience things through our senses and perceptions)—he places profound importance on the viewer’s sensory and intellectual experience, emphasizing how art can engage the body and mind in ways that go beyond representation. 

Manglano-Ovalle’s solo exhibition at DePaul Art Museum presents site-specific works that are both familiar and opaque, encouraging viewers to confront ambiguity and engage in deeper contemplation. Our experiences are never predetermined; they exist at the intersection of the private and the public, the personal and the shared. However deeply felt, they are also open to examination. Manglano-Ovalle’s work calls us to inhabit the present moment fully, urging us to consider: How does the work draw us in, and how do we, in turn, respond to it—right here, right now? 

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle’s exhibition is curated by Ionit Behar, PhD, and organized by DePaul Art Museum. 

Image credit: Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Untitled, 2023. Pine and graphite. Courtesy of the artist.