Artist Manny Vega must work methodically with "nippers" to cut small tiles for his artwork: mosaics, which can be found throughout East Harlem, a neighborhood he has deeply connected with since his birth in the Bronx.

Now, his work – which spans back to the 1970s – can be seen in one spot for a limited time at The Museum of the City of New York in East Harlem.

The exhibition, “Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega,” explores various aspects of his creativity, including painting, illustration and, of course, mosaics. The exhibition also pays homage to the traditions of the African Diaspora in the United States, Caribbean and Latin America.

What You Need To Know

  • “Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega” is a new exhibition at The Museum of the City of New York

  • It is a celebration of the career of Bronx-born artist Manny Vega, whose work can be seen throughout East Harlem in Manhattan

  • Vega is a painter, illustrator, printmaker, muralist and mosaicist, plus a set and costume designer

  • Vega is the museum's first ever artist-in-residence, and will conduct workshops for the public throughout the exhibition's year-long run

"People love Manny, they love his work, they love the way, we love the way he celebrates our cultures and so this is an homage to him and the way that he celebrates our neighborhood," said Monxo López, Curator of Community Histories at the museum.

Vega is also the museum's first ever artist in residence, and a series of workshops and events will feature him monthly throughout the exhibition, which runs through December.

For Vega, it's a big honor, and said the coolest part about it is that he didn’t even ask for it, saying, "I really feel that I earned it, and that's a wonderful feeling because it gives me the motivation to continue working hard, you know, and to just continuously perpetuate this enthusiasm and generosity.”

For Vega, giving, producing and providing are central to his purpose, exemplified by the exhibition's spiritual generosity and its connection to his community.

Plan your visit to the exhibition at mcny.org.