Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Manolo Valdes Biography
Manolo Valdés, born on March 8, 1942, in Valencia, Spain, is a distinguished artist whose work spans across painting, sculpture, and mixed media. His artistic journey began at a young age when he entered the Fine Arts Academy of San Carlos in Valencia at the age of 15. However, his formal education was short-lived as he left the academy to embark on his artistic career. In 1964, Valdés, along with Rafael Solbes and Joan Toledo, founded Equipo Crónica, an artistic collective that played a pivotal role in the Spanish Pop Art movement. This group was particularly influential under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, using art as a means of political and social critique through humor and irony.
Equipo Crónica, inspired by both English and American Pop Art, adopted its visual language but infused it with a distinctly Spanish context, critiquing the country's political landscape and art history. The collective was known for its figurative aestheticism, drawing inspiration from the works of Pablo Picasso and Diego Velázquez, among others. Although Toledo left the group in 1965, Valdés and Solbes continued their collaboration until Solbes' death in 1981. This period was marked by numerous exhibitions that extended beyond Spain's borders, establishing their notoriety internationally.
Following the dissolution of Equipo Crónica, Valdés embarked on a solo career that has been characterized by a deep engagement with art history. His work often revisits and reinterprets the masterpieces of the past, from Velázquez and Rembrandt to Matisse and Picasso. Valdés has a unique ability to decontextualize familiar images, placing them under a new light and inviting viewers to see them from a fresh perspective. His art is a dialogue with the masters of art history, where he employs various materials to explore surface texture and the tactile qualities of his pieces. In his paintings, for instance, oil is applied in thick layers, and materials such as twine, jute canvas, bitumen, and linseed oil are incorporated, creating richly textured surfaces.
Valdés' sculptures, particularly those inspired by Velázquez, have become especially prominent. These works often feature pared-down forms and unrefined mark-making, which have become hallmarks of his style. His sculptures are not only a testament to his mastery of form but also his ability to infuse historical references with contemporary relevance. The artist's large-scale public sculptures have been exhibited in major cities around the world, further solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary art.
Throughout his career, Valdés has received numerous awards and honors, including the Alfons Roig Award in Valencia, the National Award for Plastic Arts in Spain, and the Medal of the Order of Andrés Bello in Venezuela. His works are held in prestigious public and private collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Guggenheim Bilbao, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
Today, Manolo Valdés continues to live and work between New York and Madrid, where he remains a prolific artist. His work is a testament to the enduring power of art to engage with history, culture, and society. Through his innovative reinterpretations of classical themes and masterpieces, Valdés invites viewers to reconsider the past in the light of the present, making him one of the most compelling artists of his generation.
Manolo Valdes Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, through which you will be
informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
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