Let there be light
History of
The Gallery
According to area historian Cindy Homburg, the building was constructed in 1919 and opened in 1920 as the Palace Theater. The Manos family, who at one time operated more than 100 theaters in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, bought the Palace in 1949 and opened it as the Manos Theater in 1950. A bowling alley was located above the theater. “The Manos was noted as the most beautiful theater in the tri-state area, according to the entertainment industry,” Homburg said. The theater closed in 1978. The building was then used as a liquor store and offices. DeFelices, a real estate investor born and raised in the Brackenridge area, bought the building in March 2020. Nothing of the theater remains — the basement was filled in — although they have found remnants of its original walls and ceiling moldings. DeFelices said the building was in fair condition overall when he first saw it, but it was cold, dark and stale inside. It needed painting, the roof leaked and the electric needed to be updated. “We’ve been working nonstop since March,” he said. For the gallery on the first floor, DeFelices opened up the rooms to make them bigger and updated the lighting, paint, walls, trim and flooring.
Camacho’s paintings, inspired by Salvador Dali and others, are displayed throughout the 3,000-square-foot gallery, along with works by other artists. DeFelices, with an eye for detail and style, has made the gallery and the entire building an art piece, exposing brick walls inside, using barn wood and adorning it in bright colors, including copious amounts of orange. Defelices has made this place a work of art.
Since the gallery opened in 2020, The Manos Gallery has been hosting monthly exhibits featuring artist from across the Allegheny-Kisky area. The Art Director Ernesto Camacho is the curator for every monthly exhibit. The Manos Gallery also has weekly events such as paint and sip nights, weekly beginners art classes. The Manos Gallery has art studio spaces available for rent for in house resident artist. We currently have 7 studios and one event space.
The Manos Gallery has been very involved with fundraising events, recently we have partnered up with UPMC Children's Hospital to raise money for the Free Care fund. The Manos Gallery host a Kids Exhibit once a year to help raise money for the free care fund foundation. The Manos Gallery has been so fortunate to be honored to be nominated for several local awards for best art gallery such As Tribe Best of the Best 2021, 2022 and second place for 2023, Pittsburgh City Paper Best of Pittsburgh in 2021, and 2022, and 2023. The Manos Gallery was a finalist for Tribe Best of The Best in 2022 and second Place in 2023. The gallery has also been featured in the Tarentum Magazine in 2021.
The Manos Gallery is available to host any party events or business functions. For Further information please contact Ernesto Camacho for pricing details.
