Manolo Valdés

Manolo Valdés was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1942. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in art, so he decided to study at the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia. It was at this institution that he met other important artists such as Rafael Solbes and Juan Antonio Toledo, with whom he formed the artistic group known as Equipo Crónica. Equipo Crónica was an artistic movement characterized by its use of pop art and realism to critique Spanish society at the time. In 1964, Valdés, Solbes, and Toledo began working together on a series of paintings and collages that reflected the political and social atmosphere of Spain during the Franco regime. These works were often satirical and filled with humor and irony. After Equipo Crónica dissolved in 1981, Valdés moved to New York City, where he currently resides. There, he began working on large-scale sculptures that reflected his interest in art history and popular culture. His works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Manolo Valdés's work is characterized by the use of materials such as bronze, steel, and wood to create monumental sculptures that often reference art history. In addition to sculpture, Valdés has also worked in painting, printmaking, and collage. His style is unique and recognizable, and has been acclaimed by critics and art lovers alike. Valdés has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including Spain's National Prize for Plastic Arts in 1995 and the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts in 2008. His work can be found in important public and private collections around the world, including the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Juan March Foundation in Spain.