Manuel Solano is a contemporary artist whose work draws on ubiquitous references and pop culture imagery to reflect on personal experience and selfhood. In early 2014, Solano became blind as a result of an HIV-related infection, a life-altering event that fundamentally reshaped his relationship to art and perception. Before losing his sight, painting was central to his practice; afterward, he continued to work through new modes of making that reimagine vision, memory, and imagination. His work remains deeply referential and intimate—queer and nostalgic, playful yet provocative—balancing sincerity with humor and emotional intensity. Rather than retreating from visual culture, Solano engages it with renewed urgency, transforming lived experience into works that are exuberant, accessible, and deeply personal, inviting viewers to encounter vulnerability, resilience, and joy alongside him.