Paula Mans & Vanessa Villarreal: Fragmented Realities

Fragmented Realities is a two-person exhibition at the Washington Studio School that brings together the work of Paula Mans and Vanessa Villarreal. Curated by the school’s Executive Artistic Director, Reem Bassous, the show pairs the artists’ practices around the themes of fragmentation, weaving, and mending. Both artists use materials that reference ancestral lineages—Mans works in mixed media on wood panel and canvas, while Villarreal reclaims denim, a fabric originally made by enslaved African people. Their pieces, presented in dialogue, explore diasporic identity, resilience, and the transformation of fragmented histories into cohesive, powerful narratives. The exhibition includes a range of Mans’ works on display and for sale, along with Villarreal’s denim-based portraiture (individual artworks are priced individually, as listed in the gallery).

When: July 7, 2026 through July 30, 2026.

Venue: Washington Studio School, located in Washington, DC.

Tickets: Admission price is not listed; general entry appears to be free of charge. Individual artworks are available for purchase; for inquiries and sales, email admin@washingtonstudioschool.org.

Lineup: Paula Mans (mixed media artist and art educator; her experiences in Tanzania, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Brazil and her Fulbright Research Fellowship inform her work highlighting the African Diaspora) and Vanessa Villarreal (artist whose practice centers on denim assemblage, creating layered Black portraiture that reflects her African American and Panamanian American identity and draws from quilt-making traditions).

Note: The exhibition statement emphasizes the act of mending as both repair and healing, and encourages visitors to engage with the pieces with respect and openness.