Agalis Manessi's work lies within the tradition of maiolica and celebrates this rich historical medium through diverse influences ranging from the Italian Istoriato dishes to the simplicity of humble folk wares.

Striving for a poetic mastery through pictorial representation and a freshness of palette, the painting belies the difficulty of the process. Once dipped in glaze, the modelled forms and vessels become like primed canvasses. Subjects are inspired by Rennaisance painters such as Pisanello and Gentile di Fabriano, Northern European artists like Lucas Cranach, and the Fauvist work of Maurice Dennis and Franz Marc.