Manolo Valdés is a prominent Spanish painter residing in New York. He was the introducer in Spain of a form of artistic expression that combines political and social commitment with humour and irony. In 1957 he enrolled in the Valencia School of Fine Arts in San Carlos where he spent two years, abandoned his studies to devote himself to painting. In 1964 he founded the artistic group Equipo Crónica together with Juan Antonio Toledo and Rafael Solbes.

He continued working alone in Valencia for a few years until 1989 he travelled to New York where he set up his studio and continued experimenting with new forms of expression. He also maintained a studio in Madrid for the realization of large sculptures, alternating creation in both cities.