Opera Gallery Monaco will present Valdés in Monaco from 20 September to 24 October 2025, its most ambitious solo exhibition yet dedicated to the celebrated Spanish artist Manolo Valdés…
Bringing together works from 1983 to 2025, the show highlights the breadth of Valdés’ practice across painting, sculpture, and collage, with key pieces drawn from his iconic Reina Mariana, Infantas, and Cabezas series. Known for reinterpreting art historical imagery, Valdés’ work references Velázquez and Matisse while forging a distinctly contemporary voice that bridges memory, beauty, and artistic lineage.
The exhibition features large-scale Infanta Margarita sculptures rendered in aluminium and wood, alongside monumental works from his Librería series, which evoke bookshelves as homages to collective knowledge. Murano glass and resin busts adorned with butterflies will be displayed alongside textural collages in burlap and oil, underscoring Valdés’ ability to transform materials into layered reflections on history and form.
Manolo Valdès photographed in his New York studio in 2025. (Photo Credit: ©On White Wall)
According to Damien Simonelli, Director of Opera Gallery Monaco, the exhibition is also a moment to reflect on the enduring influence of Equipo Crónica, the avant-garde collective co-founded by Valdés in 1965, which challenged Franco-era Spain and reshaped post-war European art.
In parallel, a presentation of monumental outdoor sculptures will be staged at Larvotto Beach from 31 August to 25 December 2025, extending the artist’s dialogue with public space. The announcement also coincides with preparations for Espai Manolo Valdés, a dedicated museum in Valencia due to open in late 2026, celebrating one of Spain’s most acclaimed living artists.
Reina Mariana Blue, 2025, Painted wood
Valdés’ works are held in major international collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Centre Pompidou, and Museo Reina Sofía, with his monumental sculptures gracing cities from New York to Düsseldorf.
Featured image: Cabeza con mariposas azules con cristal, 2024, Resin, steel and Murano glass over bronze base
