Kim Manfredi’s residency at BoxoPROJECTS in Joshua Tree, running from March 1 through March 29, offered the artist a chance to fully immerse herself in the raw beauty of the desert landscape. During this time, she collected earth, ash, and bone to create her pigments, embracing a creative process deeply rooted in her environment and solitude.
Throughout her residency, Manfredi engaged with questions about social contracts, personal identity, and the broader human condition. Her minimalist approach — using simple, natural materials and a focused, deliberate construction process — reflects a desire to strip away excess and reveal what is essential. In her words, the process is about “making space for meaning, clarity, and connection.”
“As a resident, I have privacy, silence, and consistency of experience,” Manfredi said. “I wake up in the cabin, walk for two to three hours, then return to the studio. I’m hoping that the works are a residue of my experience.”
Manfredi sees Joshua Tree National Park as a metaphor for the social contract—a place that offers freedom and rules.
“As someone of privilege, someone of leisure, this place gives me insulation and space to explore creatively,” she said. “But as a critical thinker, I also recognize that this wild place operates under a set of rules, and as a visitor, I must live within those boundaries.”
This work includes small sculptures made from found objects—often abandoned toys—and works on paper using materials collected in the park or surrounding areas. These whimsical pieces reflect a lighter, more playful side of her practice.
“Because these toys were such a different starting point, I could somewhat anthropomorphize the abstraction,” she said. “That’s been fun.” Her painted works feature bumps, bulges, and passageways, revealing a sense of humor and a relaxed passage into the intensity of her focus.
Kim Manfredi’s open studio will offer more than just a viewing of her work—it will invite guests into a world shaped by presence, essence, and thoughtful connection.
The open studio and artist talk will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., with the artist talk at 3:00 p.m., at BoxoPROJECTS Residency, 62732 Sullivan Road, Joshua Tree.
