Manga Dreams

Manga Dreams
June 26 - September 12, 2026
Main Gallery
Exhibit Events:
Private Member Reception - Friday, June 26, 5 - 7 pm
Kintsugi Workshop - Saturday, July 25, 12 - 3 pm. Registration needed.
Anime Film Festival at the Rialto Theater - all showings are $5:
Spirited Away, Friday, July 10, 7 pm
Howl's Moving Castle, Saturday, July 11, 2 pm
Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon A Time, Saturday, July 11, 7 pm.
For $5 tickets visit RialtoTheaterCenter.org/ or 970-962-2120.
About the Exhibit:
Manga Dreams explores identity, media, and self-perception through cyberculture and digital technology. The exhibition features studio portraits of Asian youth in original, manga-inspired costumes, posing as characters they created themselves. Combining photography with digital techniques, each image builds immersive, imaginative worlds.
Originating in Japan, manga—meaning “cartoon”—bridges popular culture and contemporary art. The artists invited nonprofessional participants from the street, providing styling while encouraging them to invent unique backstories.
The resulting characters are entirely original, not based on existing manga. The exhibition highlights themes of identity, self-expression, media representation, cosplay, gender, and digital art.