Manolo Valdés

Manolo Valdés (b. 1942) is a prominent Spanish artist known for his unique approach reinterpreting iconic art historical references and themes, infusing them with a contemporary sensibility. His work draws from a wide range of influences, including Old Masters and modern icons such as Diego Velázquez, Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, while maintaining a distinct style that combines abstraction, texture and bold forms.

Valdés was born in 1942 in Valencia, Spain. He first gained recognition in the 1960s as a co-founder of the Spanish avant-garde group Equipo Crónica, which used Pop art and social commentary to critique Spain’s political climate under Franco. This collective was instrumental in Valdés’s early development as an artist, shaping his engagement with history, politics and the arts. In 1981, Valdés ventured into a solo career, where he established his distinctive voice in the art world.

One of the recurring themes in Valdés’ work is his reinterpretation of Diego Velázquez’s famous painting Las Meninas (1656). Valdés transforms Velázquez’s figures into bold, modern shapes, playing with texture and volume. ‘I am just a narrator who comments on the history of painting in various ways,’ he said, ‘using new material, it is like a game that consists of changing the code and the key to the art works.’ His monumental sculptures of Menina can be found in public spaces around the world, in Bilbao and in a 2024 public art project in Venice, often rendered in bronze or other materials, with large, expressive forms.

Valdés’s work spans various mediums, including painting, printmaking and sculpture. His sculptural pieces, in particular, are celebrated for their grandeur and striking use of space, as seen in public installations worldwide.

Throughout his career, Valdés has exhibited globally and earned significant acclaim. His works can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid and other major international institutions.