Manolo Valdés stands as a rare artistic polymath, seamlessly navigating the realms of drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking with masterful finesse. Born in Valencia, Spain in 1942, his artistic journey commenced at the tender age of 15 when he enrolled at the Fine Arts Academy of San Carlos, Valencia, initiating his journey into the world of painting.
In 1964, a creative spark ignited the formation of Equipo Crónica, a collective collaboration between Valdés, Rafael Solbes, and Joan Toledo. Embracing Pop Art, they challenged the authoritarian regime of Francisco Franco, disrupting art history's conventional norms. However, with the dissolution of the group in 1981 and the loss of Solbes, Valdés charted a transformative path into his solo career.
His renaissance as a solo artist ushered a refined, expressive style, often centered on art-historical motifs devoid of overt political undertones. Valdés breathes new life into iconic images by extracting them from their original context, enlarging figures in paintings and sculptures, abstracting form, and employing unconventional materials with rough-hewn paint application.
Embracing Spain's artistic heritage, Valdés draws inspiration from luminaries like Velázquez, Manolo Millares, Antonio Saura, and Antoni Tàpies, infusing elements of informalism into his work. Utilizing techniques like etching, silkscreen, and collage, his prints serve as a homage to artistic maestros, including Rembrandt, Rubens, and Matisse, presenting these historical masterpieces in an intellectually nuanced manner.
Residing and creating between the vibrant artistic landscapes of New York and Madrid, Valdés continues to craft a legacy as a versatile virtuoso, captivating audiences with his multi-disciplinary prowess and an unwavering commitment to reshaping artistic paradigms.