Crouch End Open Studios (CEOS) established the Barbara Mansi Award following the death of artist Barbara Mansi in December at the age of 62.
Ms Mansi was a mosaic artist who joined the collective in 2021 and quickly became a valued member of the group.
Barbara Mansi with one of her mosaic pieces (Image: Crouch End Open Studios)
Originally from Saronno, near Milan, Ms Mansi moved to England at 18 and later married Gaetano Mansi, whom she met while working at Marine Ices in Chalk Farm. The couple settled in Crouch End before moving to Cricklewood after the birth of their second child.
Elizabeth Brown, co-chair of this year’s art trail, said: “Barbara had a sparkle and was such a bundle of energy. She was always willing to help and was so creative.
“I remember she a ran brilliant workshop for children at the gallery where we hold our group show. We became very good friends and we will all miss her a lot.”
Mr Mansi said: “Barbara loved creating. Even before she moved to England she would offer to help at a pottery near to where she lived in northern Italy.
“She loved being part of Crouch End Open Studios and also volunteered at our local community centre, Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm. In fact, Barbara was working on a six foot mosaic of the suffragette Gladice Keevil, who was born and grew up at the farm.
Sections of the suffragette mosaic that Barbara Mansi was working on before she died (Image: Crouch End Open Studios)
“There’s a potter at the centre who was firing the tiles that Barbara was using to create it. She had almost finished the piece when she died and with the help of some artist friends, we are going to assemble the pieces so it can be finished.”
Ms Mansi spent years teaching Italian to adults before retiring in 2014 to focus on her art and lead mosaic workshops.
After the 2025 Crouch End Open Studios art trail, she said she was “feeling grateful after two inspiring days”. She was exhibiting at the Holy Innocents Church with five other artists and sold 11 artworks.
She added: “The energy was high, the conversations were rich, and the community spirit was everything. Thank you to everyone who stopped by — here’s to creativity, connection, and a truly successful weekend!”
In her memory, CEOS will display one of her artworks in the 2026 group exhibition, taking place from May 8 to 17 at the Original Gallery at Hornsey Library. The collective also launched the Barbara Mansi Award for a recent graduate.
This year’s recipient is Central Saint Martins ceramics graduate Audra Goffeney, who will participate in this year’s art trail and group show.
Ceramics graduate Audra Goffeney is the first recipient of the Crouch End Open Studios Barbara Mansi Award (Image: Crouch End Open Studios)
Ms Goffeney said: “From what I have heard about Barbara Mansi, she seemed incredible and achieved a lot in her life. She is someone who believed in sharing her work and her knowledge and it is a wonderful gift to be the first recipient of the award in her memory at this early point in my creative career.”
Ms Mansi is survived by her husband, two sons, and three grandchildren. Her family, announcing her death on Instagram, said: “She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, students and colleagues, and all who encountered her incredible joie de vivre, vital energy and art.”
This year’s art trail will take place on May 9 and 10, with the group show running from May 8 to 17.
