Lee Mary Manning’s In Excelsis was created during a residency at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios in Spoleto, Italy, in 2022. Using a simple 35 mm point-and-shoot camera, Manning photographed the streets, studios, and people around him, capturing the rhythm of the city during the Festival dei Due Mondi. The images reflect his ongoing interest in everyday experience, attention, and observation. Later, in his New York studio, Manning reworked these photographs into new compositions, combining them with found materials and fragments to create a layered record of time and place.

In Excelsis brings together photographs, ephemera, and collage to form an honest and direct portrait of looking and being present. Manning’s process values instinct and openness over control, turning ordinary moments into quiet reflections. The book continues his exploration of how photography can register movement, intimacy, and daily life without hierarchy or spectacle. Rooted in small gestures and shared spaces, In Excelsis shows Manning’s commitment to seeing the world closely and with care.

Soft cover
11 pages, 26 x 36 cm
Mahler & LeWitt Studios, 2025