MADRID, SPAIN.- For the first time ever in Spain, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is presenting a complete retrospective of Manolo Valdés (Valencia 1942), one of the most distinguished artists of the last half-century from Spain’s artistic scene. This important exhibition coincides with Manolo Valdés’ 25 years as a solo artist after having formed part of the group Crónica for a long period of time.

The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, plaster works and drawings and follows a thematic order: Nature, portraits, religious, everyday, Velazquez-inspired,... The “Projects” room, home of the exhibition, a kind of artist’s workshop, will bring together Valdés’ plaster works and drawings in an attempt to explain the artist’s style of work to the viewer.

This exhibition is completed with four giant pieces (each measuring more than three metres) to be located in the Extension patio. A catalogue is being prepared that will not only show his works in graphic form but that will also include texts written by major specialists, focusing for the first time ever on his works:

Mario Vargas Llosa will write about his relationship with the sculptures; Alfonso Pérez Sánchez will recreate his work in the classical world as support for his works; Guillermo Solana will present an overview of his work, analysing his career and María José Salazar, exhibition curator, is to write a specific text on the artist and the exhibition at the Museum. The publication will be completed with a bibliographical, documentary selection by Ruth Gallego.