Stepping Outside the Frame: Manuella Hollo’s Unexpected Exploration of Space and StoryApril 1, 2025

Art often asks us to see the world through fresh eyes, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. For Manuella Holló, that transformation happens in the most unexpected of places—the bathroom. In her latest series, Manuella invites us into the intimate, often overlooked world of Mediterranean washrooms, blending her fascination with interiors, human behaviour, and the untold stories of everyday spaces.

Her journey as an artist has been anything but conventional. From painting in Deià’s lush gardens to documenting Ibiza’s eclectic bar bathrooms, Manuella’s work is as much about observation as it is about breaking taboos. Through her paintings and accompanying photography, she challenges what we consider “worthy” of artistic representation, proving that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected corners of life.

Finding Home in Deià

Manuella’s story is one of providence. Originally from Hungary, she found herself in Deià not by chance, but through what she believes was God’s clear guidance.

“I met a yoga master in Palma who invited me to a ‘Wake Up Dance’ event,” she recalls. “There, I met Arturo Rhodes, and he casually mentioned I could live in Deià. A short time later, during a prayer, I felt an inner guidance telling me to go. So, I followed what felt like a marching order.”

From the moment she arrived, things fell into place effortlessly—a job offer, a home, and the warm embrace of the local artist community. Before long, she was displaying her work on the lawn of La Residencia, officially marking her place among Deià’s creative minds.

For Manuella, the connection between art and place is inseparable. “Deià wakes you up in the middle of breathtaking nature,” she says. “It changes you. My first series, Terrace Sensation, was completely shaped by painting in different gardens around the village. There’s something about the magnetic field of Deià, a presence that stirs the soul—it’s like nowhere else.”

The Beauty of Bathrooms

It’s easy to imagine an artist in Deià painting its dramatic cliffs, golden sunsets, or turquoise coves. But why toilets?

For Manuella, this fascination isn’t new. It dates back to her university days when she conducted a photo study of identical toilets in a massive communist-era apartment block, proving that despite identical layouts, each space took on the personality of its owner. Even earlier, in kindergarten, she unknowingly foreshadowed her artistic path by winning a painting competition about bathrooms.

“I think people underestimate the power of bathrooms,” she says with a laugh. “They’re personal. They’re quiet. They’re decorated with just as much care as any other room in the house. Some people even treat them as their little sanctuaries—places to sing, cry, pray, or just breathe“

Her latest series, painted in bars and cafés around the Mediterranean, documents the eclectic, colorful, and often humorous ways people design these spaces. But the project goes beyond just painting—she also photographs people sitting on toilets and interviews them about their toilet stories. The result is an honest, playful, and unexpectedly intimate glimpse into something we all share but rarely talk about.

“I love convincing people to step outside their comfort zones,” she explains. “And let’s be honest—everyone has a funny bathroom story. Why do we get so embarrassed talking about something so universal?”

A Playful Approach to Art

For Manuella, art is meant to be an exploration, not a rigid plan. Though she carefully prepares before painting—eating the right food, aligning her body and mind through yoga—once she starts, she lets intuition take over.

“When I paint, I enter my own dreamlike universe. I enter a state of flow.” (I love using the word “flow”—it’s inspired by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience) she says.

That dreamlike quality is reflected in her evolving style. Though she once focused on glamorous, glittery women in shop windows during her time in London, her recent work embraces a more expressive, neo-fauvist approach—blending surreal interiors, bold color, and fragmented memories to create emotionally charged compositions.

Motherhood has also shifted her artistic perspective. Observing how her children interact with the world—watching dust shimmer in the sunlight or tracing the way bubbles dissolve—has reignited her fascination with surrealism. “Children remind you to notice the small things,” she says. “Their wonder at the everyday miracles sparks that fascination in you once again”

What’s Next for Manuella?

Manuella’s exhibition of Mediterranean washrooms will be on display at Charles Marlow in Deià from April through June, with all works available for purchase. In the fall, she’ll have a solo exhibition at La Residencia and additional works at Es Taller in Valldemossa.

When asked about her dream project, Manuella’s eyes light up. “I’d love to paint the Dragon Blood Tree in Socotra, Yemen, and somehow combine it with the world’s most interesting bathroom,” she says. “A mix of nature, surrealism, and everyday life—that’s where the magic happens.”

For Manuella Holló, art is about pushing boundaries, breaking taboos, and reminding people to play. And if that means looking at the world from the perspective of a toilet seat, so be it.