Manolo Valdés

Manolo Valdés - Cubism as a Pretext

Artist Biography: Manolo Valdes was born in Valencia, Spain in 1942. From an early age, he showed a great interest in art, so he decided to study at the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia. It was at this institution where he met other important artists such as Rafael Solbes and Juan Antonio Toledo, with whom he formed the artistic group known as Equipo Crónica, an artistic movement characterized by the use of pop art and realism to criticize the Spanish society of the time. In 1964, Valdés, Solbes and Toledo began working together on a series of paintings and collages that reflected the political and social environment of Spain during the Franco regime. These works were often satirical and full of humor and irony.After the dissolution of Equipo Crónica in 1981, Valdés moved to New York, where he currently resides. There, he began working on large 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' 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, Print 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 the Spanish National Plastic Arts Award in 1995 and the Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts in 2008. His work is in important public and private collections around the world, including the collection of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Fundación Juan March in Spain.