Manning joined the Board of Art Division in 2020, following a nomination by Ramone Muñoz, fellow Art Division Board Member and, like Manning, a professor at ArtCenter.

Rudy Manning is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Pastilla, a Creative & Marketing Digital Agency he founded in 2004 that has since grown into one of Los Angeles’s leading digital agencies. His commitment to design-centered thinking has helped Pastilla launch and shape some of the world’s most successful brands and products. “I am humbled and honored to help Art Division in its mission to provide training to these young artists”, Manning said, commenting on his new role. He added: “I grew to love the organization and bond with all the genuine and heartfelt people I have met here – both the talented students and the exceptional team.”

Manning brings a wealth of experience to his new role of providing strategic guidance and leadership in training youth in the visual arts. Ever since he joined Art Division, he has worked hard to increase the non-profit organization’s growth, enriching the arts education scene of Los Angeles.

In welcoming Manning to the Board, Catherine Hess, former Head of the Board of Directors at Art Division, comments: “Rudy’s dedication, passion for the arts and depth of experience across the field will be an invaluable addition to the leadership of the Board. We are all very proud of the progress that he has achieved during his short time at the organization and we are excited to reach our goals with Rudy at the helm.”

Innovations Ahead for Art Division

When asked about his future plans, Manning mentioned that one of the goals was to enrich the curriculum with Media Arts, which would open up even more prospective opportunities for students at the organization.

“Media Arts would encompass technologically-driven fields like graphic design, animation, film production, and photography. I relish the chance to expand the art resources and knowledge in this new area in Art Division’s intimate learning community,” said Manning. He also emphasized that “painting and drawing will remain the focus of Art Division’s curriculum because they are foundational for careers in the visual arts.”