Put a Manolo Valdes in his life

A few days ago in the comments on my last post of art Chisco I suggested some talk of Valencia painters, including Manolo Valdes.

At the same comments I picked up the gauntlet delighted because that forced me to write something Valdes, one of my favorite painters.

The reality is that I live surrounded by works of Manolo Valdes. There are sculptures of itself to the Airport of Madrid, in the Parque Enrique Tierno Galvan, in Alcobendas a huge and magnificent "Menina" from 7 meters (wonderful investment for the town of Alcobendas. What it is worth today!), Was purchased at a good time, in 1999, before the explosion of the international price of Manolo. Some gurus complained about the purchase, now worth double or triple (see The World of date). Even in the CC Xanadu have had the good taste to buy several sculptures of heads of Valdes and take them there exposed; a luxury. Also, the Reina Sofia (MNCARS) has a splendid sculpture of wood, very useful to see.

If an artist I want to pass on his study today without having succeeded, that's Manolo Valdes. His treatment of the subject, their burlap, its themes and its classical sculptures attracted me particularly. His studio is in NYC and I understand he has another season in Spain when it happens in our country.

His contribution in the past 7-8 years has risen through the roof, some of that work is certainly merit to one of the best 3 artists who deal with the matter in this country (Valdes, Tapies and Barcelo), but it is also a great merit of the Marlborough Gallery, to which any disparagingly called the McDonalds of art galleries, but that really is a factory for the promotion and sale to private collectors and institutions.

The year was 2001 or 2002 when one day I went to see a picture of Antonio Lopez at the Marlborough Gallery in Madrid. There, Alexandra, who now works for Sotheby's, showed me the table was going to see in their stores away from prying eyes. There, beside him, I discovered a huge Valdes of 1.90 cm in height. A burlap mater of the year 98 possibly in a series sold well in the exhibitions of the author in the gallery SEN Madrid (pictures of this artist on classic themes: Meninas, Philip IV and generally full-length portraits of Velazquez and so influential. are very much wanted nothing to do with "handbags" and "shoes", often shocking and even then are sold easily).

This type of paintings, sculptures and more classic Manolo have doubled its price in the market since 2000. Parts are very difficult to find and that today are already prohibitive. I bought it for an amount very important, but also very happy because today my investment has appreciated more than 100%, which is not too significant, since I do not have any intention of selling it.

Total, which operates as a pulse, at 2 days of the operatives of Art brought McDonalds protected as they deserve this table and I hung since then accompanies me every day.

I like the piece because it has a lot more area (to cement!) Than other similar knew, was emphatic (in the photo that is not very well appreciated by the methyl protecting it). This is one of my favorite paintings. I would love to have a sculpture of a small to accompany Menina

Tags: Antonio Lopez, burlap, Barceló, Marlborough Gallery, Manolo Valdes, Tapies

The strange story of a scene: the Avignon DIBUS of Antonio de Felipe

These days I have received several emails reminding, that I undertook to talk about art 1 time a week and was not satisfied. A good American friend, visiting Spain and CEO of a major multinational telecommunications company, and in addition to the art aficionado, connoisseur of this story urged me to tell the tale.

It is true that this return to the frenetic activity after the summer has not left me a long time, and I wanted to come back to post 1 a week on painting especially. I relaxed a little paint and write in both days of work, I want to force a gap for letting me do this, I think it is healthy for me

I do not particularly like the pop art, frankly, but if I have a particular weakness for a pop artist, Antonio de Felipe.

Antonio Valencia is an original painter who lives settled on the borderline between Madrid and Valencia hometown, and maintains that studies (worth seeing) in both cities.

Comes from the world of advertising, is a very creative person and his work is meant values from the viewpoint of advertising creativity. You also do not know if the grace or the misfortune of being possibly the most pirated painter of the country ( not only pirating movies and mp3, also another form of art). The images of the table characteristic of Audrey Hepburn Antonio has pirated, copied and reproduced in magazines, paintings, T-shirts, postcards and posters dozens of companies (many of them, complained one day) without permission or authorization. Their reproductions are sold as donuts, and its original painted on canvas reach high prices (which also are public and are on website)

But today count the history of the painting "The DIBUS of Avignon" I've already counted on another occasion in Spain Art, our art blog. This huge table, is a genial pop tribute to the "Ladies of Avignon" of such a Picasso.

The story goes back to 2002. In that year contacted the Gallery Maria Jose Castellvi, Barcelona, representing Antonio concerned for his work. I received a number of polaroid photographs in the mail a few days and one of them was "The DIBUS of Avignon." I jumped like a spring to see the photo, if I wanted to have some pop-art, had to be that box!. I loved it.

I remember that back then talked and talked to the gallery and to my regret we do not reach an economic agreement. At that precise moment do not know, but never forgot "my" box.
They spent the years and I was more difficult than usual (I insist the pop art is not mine) to see pop works, as long as compared with that picture. The hardware-polaroid photo was still in a drawer of my desk. The preserved years.

One day in early 2007, writing a small post in ArteSpain experience and I mentioned that I commented on the table, so striking a few days later I wrote the very Antonio de Felipe, fun and surprise and invited me to visit him at his home studio.

I went there one afternoon, and Antonio, charming showed me his home and studio work, fun and original (you can view photos on their website), and at one point, I wanted to teach something special. To my surprise, was there, at his home table. I had been there, like waiting for all these years.

I am among those who think it is not and should not tempt fate, or let the opportunity pass twice. I do not think, and even cost me a lot more expensive than I could have cost at the time (they had spent years and the price of Antonio as the foam rises every year), I did it with the piece.

Leverage works in my new home for leave this box for a privileged space in my living room, the table measured almost 2 x 2 meters and is not easy to locate:-D! And since then is in the living room of my house.

Incidentally, although I have not thrown the old photo, Polaroid, which in its day I sent the gallery. The fondly keep on my desk, and it seems some of the furniture and I think that will haunt it for years. And even among my eyebrow and eyebrow Antonio to buy something else since then, this sculpture "The cow from Coca-Cola" who always made me also thank you very much and I could see in his house.

(Antonio: Guardamela that this also is going to come home, and I'm making a hole)

Tags: Antonio de Felipe, pop art, DIBUS avignon, sculpture, Picasso Painting, cow coca cola