johnny macas-freire

Route 40 Makaha Towers 3:10am oil on canvas 48x36" DM for purchasing

Join Johnny Macas-Freire and manini COLLECTIVE this 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 in Chinatown for the exhibition opening of 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑺𝑯 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑺𝑯, the debut art exhibition of 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘, brings together Hawaiʻi-based artists whose work explores memory, home, and inheritance—asking what it means to gather, remember, and belong in Hawaiʻi today. The exhibition takes its name from the calabash, a vessel historically used for food and everyday life, which becomes a metaphor for collective experience: a shared container shaped by what is held, passed down, and left behind. 📍 Kaiao Space, 1018 Smith St., Honolulu HI (@kaiaospace ) 🗓️ First Friday, March 6, 2026 ⏰ 5PM - Pau 📆 On View: March 6 - 15 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Lauren Hana Chai / @laurenhanachai Cyan Garma / @cyangarma Eduardo Joaquin / @eduardojoaquinstudio Kaila Foltz Johnny Macas-Freire / @macasfreire Grace Milk / @tulipwax Nainoa Rosehill / @nainoarosehill Johnny Macas-Freire (b. 1999) is an artist, curator, and educator based in Kapolei, in the ʻEwa moku of Oʻahu. He is the founder and director of manini GALLERY, a curatorial project dedicated to expanding infrastructure for Hawaiʻi-based contemporary artists. As both an artist and curator, he works to celebrate local histories and expressions and to thread lived experiences together with inherited cultures and worldviews. He holds a BA in Art History with a Museum Studies certificate from the University of New Mexico, and has curated exhibitions in institutional and alternative spaces across Hawai’i. 707 🔛🔝 -— 🎥 Video by @erickmelanson Mahalo to Hoʻākea Source @hoakeasource , Puʻuhonua Society @puuhonuasociety , and Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts @warholfoundation #warholgrantee for supporting this project.

there is something so incredible about working with art and artists. don't think i will ever get tired of it. constantly thankful i get to do this.

We pulled up to the Manini Collective (@maninicollective ) show “calabash” and caught up with founder Johnny Macas-Freire at @kaiao_space in Chinatown, Honolulu. manini GALLERY (est. 2022) supports Hawaiʻi-based artists through pop-up exhibitions, gallery takeovers, and community programs in collaboration with local nonprofits, businesses, and alternative spaces. Their work has been featured at venues including Aloha Stadium, Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, and Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, with works acquired into the Hawaiʻi State Art in Public Places Collection.

𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗬 @ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 we’re accepting applications from Hawaiʻi-based artists, collectives, and curators for upcoming solo and curated shows in the heart of Chinatown, Honolulu. swipe to learn more — then apply through the link in our bio. #maninigallery #chinatownhonolulu #hawaiiart #hawaiiartist

CR!T HAPPENS has found a new home! Join us at our new venue, OurSpace (@ourspacehawaii ), for another public Art Critique Night, where we bring together artists and community for an evening of dialogue, constructive criticism, and growth. 📍 OurSpace, 1052 Waimanu St., Honolulu, HI 🗓 Saturday, April 18 ⏰ 6–9PM 🎟️ RSVP via link in bio This open critique session welcomes artists to bring artwork in progress or completed works, alongside those who wish to participate through observation and critical conversation. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP via link in bio. Presented by @maninicollective and @ourspacehawaii

Kapolei landscape study #1 oil and found-objects on aloha shirt 2025 real 707 homies recognize these kinds of posters, usually wheatpasted across Kapolei for as long as i can remember, always with kinda nuts messages all over them. recently, the anonymous poster has transitioned from wheat-pasting to duct taping. This current poster was collected from right outside Kapolei Golf Course, where I took the photo reference of these old white dudes playing golf. Kapolei, as a commuter town that was once conceptualized as O’ahu’s “second city”, was planned by government and private business to rival Honolulu. I don’t think that ever truly panned out. I think about the Kapolei when I was in middle school, where it was all open fields, before the added that ugly East Kapolei rail stop that obstructs the view of Lē’ahi. I think of Pu’uokapolei, and how Makakilo (not the one we know today, but the other mountain next to it that has been consumed by the dredging industry, what used to be the true Makakilo) was once a destination for navigators to learn to read the skies; prime for its extensive views of the coastline from West side to Town. I wonder what it might have been like to observe Kapolei during these eras of habitation, and how land use differs over generations and cultures. I think about how they’re opening a Sonic this year in Kapolei, and rumors of a Dutch Bros near Ka Makana Ali’i. My students have been all getting flooded with Instagram ads for these companies, who are priming young appetites to be ready to consume more American diets of processed sugar in single-use plastic cups. One student told me “Why can’t we have everything cool like the mainland? We don’t have shit over here” I tell them what I know: We get plenty. I think of the person who has been posting these anonymous signs all these years. I wonder if the city planners ever consider him. I wonder what he thinks of the way this place has changed over the years. I wonder what had to happen for this amount of institutional distrust to boil within someone, but it’s no mystery to me that it’s probably warranted. I wonder if he misses the view of Lē’ahi, too.

𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿 GALLERY HOURS & EVENTS for CALABASH Very happy to announce the extension of our group show at @kaiao_space , as well as CRIT HAPPENS and CLOSING RECEPTION events. 📍 Kaiao Space, 1018 Smith St., Honolulu HI (@kaiaospace ) 🎤 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: CR!T Happens, art critique night, Saturday March 28, 6-9pm 🎉 Closing Reception, First Friday April 3, 5pm-PAU 📆 Exhibition EXTENDED until April 5! ⏰ DM @maninicollective , or text (808) 594 7399 to schedule a private showing.

No we are not singing, but we do sing on canvas with our brush and paint. Here are some photos taken by @sol.universe.studio at our February first friday 2026 event. Johnny Macas @maninigallery hosted our artist talk and show for AO MĀLAMALAMA at The Manifest. It was a packed house @mitchell.painter.art and I dove deep into our artistic journeys, celebrating family, community, the meaning of recording lineage and the problems we solve through art. Especially as a Native American woman birthing children of native hawaiian blood and nurturing and honoring their combined lineages. Or Mitchell Anderson honoring a grandmothers quilt and a moment of coming home and how the women who come before us nurture our inner light. A big MAHALO to everyone who came and asked such thoughtful questions. I thought we would have a couple of questions, but Six of you asked questions and was such an engaging artist talk. Video coming soon! Don't miss the exhibit before March 1, 2026. Swing by The Manifest for a coffee and take in some inspiration. Both artworks are available for purchase. Comment MANIFEST if you'd like a personal tour.

TONIGHT: 𝑪𝑹!𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑺 art critique night at 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝘄𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗼 @kapwa.tattoo 📸 📸 mahalo to everyone who came to our last 𝑪𝑹!𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑺 event at @themanifest ! It was an incredible success, and it was so lovely seeing what the community has been creating, and sharing constructive feedback with each other. Our second event, at 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝘄𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗼 @kapwa.tattoo , is TONIGHT! We hope to see you there. Feel free to bring your artwork, and/or your critical eye, to this public critique session. 👁️‍🗨️ CR!T HAPPENS: art critique night 📍Kapwa Tattoo Studios, 900 N Nimitz Hwy, Ste. 311, Honolulu 🕕 6pm - 9pm 📆 Jan 30, 2026 Brought to you by Manini Collective through @hoakeasource @puuhonuasociety @warholfoundation

𝑪𝑹!𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑺: art critique night @kapwa.tattoo Join us our the second Art Critique Night, now popping-up at Kapwa Tattoo Studios, where artists and arts-enthusiasts are encouraged to bring your artworks and/or your critical eye to this open-to-the-public art critique session. 👁️‍🗨️ CR!T HAPPENS: art critique night 📍Kapwa Tattoo Studio, 900 N Nimitz Hwy, Ste 311 🕕 6pm - 9pm 📆 Friday, January 30 Light pupus provided mahalo @art.florani for the opportunity <3 Brought to you by Manini Collective through @hoakeasource @puuhonuasociety @warholfoundation members of Manini Collective: @laurenhanachai @tulipwax @eduardojoaquinstudio @cyangarma @nainoarosehill @macasfreire @kailafoltz

🌋 From mushroom pastries to palace porcelain to a ceramic maneki-neko cocktail — Day 01 of our 72 Hours in Honolulu guide is here! Explore Capitol Modern’s public art gems, trace Hawaiʻi’s ceramics lineage from volcano to glaze, and discover why Downtown & Chinatown are full of unexpected clay, culture, and killer cocktails. Written by Honolulu-based artist and writer Johnny Macas-Freire @macasfreire — read the full Day 01 guide now on explore.moca-ny.org @beyondpastrystudio @jennatalia2.0 #HonoluluCeramics #ClayInHawaii #ChinatownHonolulu #CapitolModern #MOCAExplore