Biography
We build upon that which art history has placed in our hands.
Following the dissolution of Equipo Crónica, the pioneering group of Pop Art in Spain, which he cofounded, Valdés continued his career solo as of 1982. His works derive their strength from the masterpieces of the past, recreating and re-contextualizing some of Western art's most representative icons, bear historic clues, colors, and textures, and make strong references to art history, carrying traces that extend from Velázquez to Zurbarán, and from Matisse to Picasso and Lichtenstein.
Selected Works
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Manolo ValdésCabeza Blanca VI, 2023
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Manolo ValdésVidriera VI, 2022
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Manolo ValdésCabeza de Cristal XII, 2021
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Manolo ValdésCabeza en Blanco II, 2021
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Manolo ValdésMatisse como Pretexto con Fondo Rosa, 2021
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Manolo ValdésLa Doble Cara, 2018
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Manolo ValdésTriple Butterfly, 2017
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Manolo ValdésEl Dibujo Como Pretexto III, 2016
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Manolo ValdésLos Aretes, 2016
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Manolo ValdésCabeza, 2015
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Manolo ValdésAriosto, 2014
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Manolo ValdésCaballero, 2012
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Manolo ValdésDama a Caballo, 2012
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Manolo ValdésLa Doble Imagen (Odalisca), 2010
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Manolo ValdésSombrero con Fondo Blanco e Cinta Negra, 1995
Exhibitions
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Manolo Valdés
Las Meninas a San Marco 5 April - 15 June 2024Manolo Valdés solo exhibition in the historic centre of Venice, ItalyRead more -
Manolo Valdés
Las Meninas in Naples, Naples 27 September 2023 - 6 January 2024In the Salone della Meridiana of the Archaeological Museum of Naples, ten bronze sculptures 'Reina Maariana' and a monumental 'Infanta Margherita' by master Manolo ValdésRead more -
Manolo Valdés
Reinas y Caballero, Bagno Alpemare, Forte dei Marmi 1 April - 10 September 2023Embraced by the breathtaking hold of the Apuan Alps, Versilia once again welcomes the summer season with an exhibition displaying sculptures by Spanish Maestro Manolo Valdés in Alpemare Beach Club, a property of Andrea Bocelli and his family.Read more -
Manolo Valdés
L'Arte come Pretesto, Venice 18 April 2022 - 30 June 2023Contini Art Gallery is showcasing the artworks of the Master, offering a stimulatingRead more
overview of the different techniques used, and the multiform experiments made by one of the major
exponents of the international contemporary art scene. -
Manolo Valdés & Andrea Bocelli
Teatro del Silenzio, Lajatico (Pisa) 22 - 24 July 2021Manolo Valdés is the main artist on stage for the 15th edition of Teatro del Silenzio with the monumental sculpture "Clio Dorada".Read more -
Manolo Valdés
Le forme del Tempo, Rome 17 October 2020 - 11 July 2021Manolo Valdés returns to Rome after an absence of twenty-five years with an extensive solo exhibition in the Palazzo Cipolla Museum’s magnificent halls.Read more -
Igor Mitoraj & Manolo Valdés
Dolce e Gabbana, Venice 10 May - 10 June 2019Exhibition of the artworks by masters Igor Mitoraj and Manolo Valdés at Dolce & Gabbana boutique in Venice, Italy.Read more -
Manolo Valdés
La Poetica della Traduzione, Pietrasanta (Lucca) 16 June - 30 September 2018The Municipality of Pietrasanta (LU), in collaboration with the Contini Art Gallery in Venice alongRead more
with the Versiliana Foundation and Start, is pleased to present a one-man exhibition of the
Spanish artist, Manolo Valdés, curated by Kosme de Barañano. -
Manolo Valdés
I Dettagli Luminosi, Venice 9 May 2017 - 6 May 2018Among the most significant artists of the XXI Century, Manolo Valdés is an eclectic, multifaceted artist, whose continuous artistic and formal research conjugates with artistic influences from art history.Read more
Press
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Las Meninas leave
Venezia Today, 17 June 2024 -
From Atchugarry to Valdés, sculpture flows through Venice
Il Tempo , 4 May 2024 -
Manolo Valdés, ladies conquer Venice
Villegiardini, 30 April 2024 -
13 Bronze Figures Reinterpreted from Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ Line Up in a Central Venice Plaza
Grace Ebert, Colossal, 18 April 2024 -
The Meninas of Manolo Valdés in San Marco
Arquitectura Viva, 12 April 2024 -
Spanish sculptor tells about his Meninas
Veronica Tuzii, Corriere del Veneto, 4 April 2024 -
My works can be born even from a single word
Vera Agosti, Libero Quotidiano, 4 April 2024 -
Valdés lands in Venice
Gabriele Simongini, Il Tempo, 4 April 2024 -
Touch my Meninas
Francesca Amé, Il Giornale, 4 April 2024 -
Manolo Valdés - Las Meninas a San Marco
TG1, 2 April 2024 -
The real issues and long live "Las Meninas"
Corriere del Veneto , 31 March 2024 -
Valdés's ladies marching in San Marco
Gazzettino, 29 March 2024 -
Maolo Valdés conquers Piazza San Marco
Libero, 23 March 2024 -
Manolo Valdéa's sculptures take over Venice
Il Tempo, 22 March 2024 -
Venice acquires a sculpture donated by Manolo Valdés
Ansa, 20 March 2024 -
Venice City Council acquires a sculpture donated by Manolo Valdés
Venezia Today, 20 March 2024 -
Last days for Valdés exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Naples
Magda Killa Lalla Cirignano, WebNapoli24.com, 19 December 2023 -
Las Meninas by Manolo Valdés on show at the Mann
Martina Coppola, Eroica Fenice, 2 October 2023 -
At the Mann, Valdés's "Meninas" come out of Velázquez's painting
Stella Cervasio, La Repubblica, 29 September 2023 -
MANN dedicates an exhibition to Spanish artist Manolo Valdés, the first in the South
Fiestre sull'Arte, 29 September 2023 -
Manolo Valdés at Museo Archeologico di Napoli
villegiardini.it, 7 July 2023 -
Manolo Valdés at Contini Art Gallery
Il Notiziario di Cortina, 20 August 2022 -
Lorenzo Quinn & Manolo Valdés at Contini Art Gallery
Federica Mascetti, THE GRITTI, 1 August 2022 -
Manolo Valdés - Ladies on display
Il Gazzettino, 3 May 2022 -
Manolo Valdés reinvents art history
Il Tempo, 1 May 2022 -
Manolo Valdés in Venice a Spanish artist who 'steals' like Picasso
Libertà, 24 April 2022
Publications
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Las Meninas a San Marco
Manolo Valdés Galleria d'Arte Contini, 2024Hardback, 112 pagesRead more
Publisher: Bandecchi & Vivaldi
Dimensions: 300 x 240 mm -
Las Meninas a Napoli
Manolo Valdés Galleria d'Arte Contini, 2023Hardback, 82 pagesRead more
Publisher: Bandecchi&Vivaldi
Dimensions: 240 x 300 mm -
L'Arte come Pretesto
Manolo Valdés Galleria d'Arte Contini, 2022Hardback, 168 pagesRead more
Dimensions: 290 x 330 mm -
Le Forme del Tempo
Manolo Valdés Gabriele Simongini, 2020Hardback, 192 pagesRead more
Publisher: Manfredi Edizioni
Dimensions: 240 x 280 mm -
La Poetica della Traduzione
Manolo Valdés Galleria d'Arte Contini, 2018Hardback, 192 pagesRead more
Publisher: Peruzzo
Dimensions: 290 x 330 mm -
Dettagli Luminosi
Manolo Valdés Galleria d'Arte Contini, 2017Hardback, 216 pagesRead more
Dimensions: Peruzzo