Manolo Valdés was born in Valencia, Spain, on March 8, 1942.
He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Carlos for two years starting in 1957.
In 1964, he co-founded the artist collective Equipo Crónica with Joan Toledo and Rafael Solbes.
Valdés remained part of the group until Solbes’ death in 1981.
Today, he lives and works in New York City, with additional homes in the Hamptons and Miami.
His art is deeply influenced by great masters like Velázquez, Rembrandt, Rubens, Matisse, and Picasso.
He is known for large-scale paintings, sculptures, etchings, and collages rich in historical references.
His works explore color, texture, and iconic imagery with a bold, tactile visual style.
Between 1965 and 1981, he participated in over 70 solo and group exhibitions.
Valdés has exhibited in major museums including the Guggenheim (NY), Hirschhorn (DC), and galleries worldwide.
His art has been shown in cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul, and Seoul.
Among his numerous honors are the National Award for Plastic Arts in Spain and the Alfons Roig Award.
He also received international medals from Tokyo, Milan, Lisbon, Baghdad, and Venezuela.
In 1993, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Andrés Bello in Venezuela.
Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman recognized him as a leading figure of “liquid art” in his book Liquid Life.