Manfred Rapp

Manfred Rapp, Caricatures, "Family Gathering, "

2017

Manfred Rapp, born in Germany in 1956, began honing his artistic skills early in life, pursuing formal training as a graphic artist by the age of sixteen. He completed an apprenticeship at a West German firm, which laid the foundation for his career in design and illustration. In the years that followed, he worked on projects ranging from children’s television programs and books to designing posters for internationally acclaimed performers like Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, and Phil Collins. He later expanded his technical skills at Messerschmidt Boelko Blohm Air Industries, drafting aircraft engine plans and aerodynamics concepts. ​During his early career, Manfred took study trips to Paris, Rome, and Venice, immersing himself in the works of the Great Masters. At twenty-three, he enrolled at the Art Academy of Konstanz, where he studied under Czechoslovakian artist Professor Karel Hodr, graduating in 1985 with a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. ​Influenced by the French Impressionists, Manfred developed a distinctive style that blends Impressionism with the glazing techniques of the Old Masters. His body of work includes rural and urban landscapes, as well as figurative pieces, all marked by a balance of classical technique and personal vision.