Vincent Valdez is a Texas-born artist known for his large, hyper-realistic paintings that address real issues in American history and society. Raised in San Antonio, his artwork explores themes of social justice, memory, and the Mexican American experience through his mastery of the human figure.
Vincent Valdez’s artwork is more than art; it is a strong visual statement with a story and meaning.
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Vincent Valdez (born 1977) is a well known figurative painter from San Antonio, Texas. Growing up in a vibrant Mexican American community, he exhibited artistic talent early on, creating murals and drawings. At just 10 years old, he began his art career as a child prodigy. His exceptional skills earned him a full scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Valdez is renowned for exploring themes related to his Mexican American heritage. He also tells stories and addresses social justice issues through his artwork. Today, he is celebrated for his contributions to contemporary art.
“I’ve always been interested in the underdog… the people who are often left out of the history books.” — Vincent Valdez
What is His Style Like?
Valdez is a master of Social Realism. This means he uses realistic painting techniques to create narratives and comment on social and political “realities.”
His paintings are often monochromatic (using mostly one color, like grey or black and white). He does this to make the images feel like old historical photos or a dramatic film. By painting people at a massive scale, he forces the viewer to stand face-to-face with the subjects, making the message impossible to ignore.
Key things to look for in his work:
- Highly Detailed: He spends months getting the texture of skin, clothes, and light exactly right.
- Modern “Easter Eggs”: He often hides modern items – like a mobile phone or a specific brand of pop inside historical-looking scenes. This shows that the problems of the past are still happening today.
- Cinematic Atmospheres: His compositions often look like a “freeze-frame” from a high-budget film.
Why do you think he has chosen to paint the figures, above, on a white background, as if they are floating?
Top Facts about artist Vincent Valdez:
- He was professionally painting murals in San Antonio before he even hit middle school.
- At age 26, he was the youngest artist to have a solo show at the famous McNay Art Museum.
- He is a talented trumpet player! He says the “rhythm” of playing music helps him find the “rhythm” of painting.
- Valdez has a twin brother who sometimes models for his paintings.
- He believes a paintbrush can be a “weapon” to fight against unfairness and racism.
- He is inspired by “Old Master” painters from hundreds of years ago, like Goya, but he updates their style for the 21st century.
- One of his most famous series is named after a famous protest song, “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday.
- His painting The City caused a huge debate across the U.S. because it showed the KKK in a modern setting to remind people that hate still exists.
- Even though his art is shown in huge museums in New York and L.A., he still considers himself a “Texas artist” at heart.
- He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design
Look at the painting below by Vincent Valdez and think about the way he has created a dramatic mood or atmosphere. Think of 5 adjectives to describe the artwork…
More Than Just a Painter
While Vincent Valdez is famous for his massive oil paintings, he is a multimedia artist. Sometimes a painting is the right choice, but other times, a sculpture, a drawing, or even a vehicle works better to tell the story or highlight a message.
How he explores different media in his work:
- Charcoal: Before he was famous for oil paints, he created Stations, a series of giant charcoal drawings. Charcoal allowed him to create a “gritty” and raw feeling that perfectly matched his heavy subject matter.
- Bronze: He doesn’t just work in 2D. Valdez has created bronze sculptures to give his subjects a physical, permanent presence that you can walk around and experience in 3D.
- The “Ice Cream Truck” Project: One of his projects is El Chavez Ravine. Instead of a canvas, he used a 1953 Good Humor ice cream truck (below) as his surface. He spent two years painting the history of a displaced Los Angeles community onto the truck.
- Video and Sound: He often adds audio components or video installations to his work to create an “immersive” experience. This makes the viewer feel like they are stepping into the history he is depicting.
Other media Vincent Valdez uses in his art:
These drawings (above) are from a series called America’s Finest, 2012, and are drawn with graphite (pencil) on paper… Notice how Valdez includes symbols and props in his work. This helps to create a sense of story, history or narrative.
Can you guess how big the drawings are? Click to find out…
The drawings are 40 inches tall and 26 inches wide – huge!
2016 | oil on canvas | 74 x 360 inches
What skills can you see in Valdez’s artworks? Think about the quality of his work and try to list 5 skills you recognise.
2019 | oil on canvas | 42 x 60 inches
Collaborations
Vincent Valdez often collaborates with people outside the art world:
- Musicians: For the ice cream truck project, he teamed up with legendary musician Ry Cooder. While Cooder made an album about the history of the Chavez Ravine neighborhood, Valdez created the visual version on the truck.
- Historians and Activists: He works closely with experts to make sure the “hidden histories” he paints are accurate and impactful.
“I create images as instruments to probe the past in order to reveal an immediacy to what is occurring today.” — Vincent Valdez
Vincent Valdez on Instagram:
Valdez currently has over 14,000 followers on his Instagram account and posts descriptions highlighting the messages or meanings he is exploring.
How to create artwork like Vincent Valdez:
If you are creating paintings, you obviously need high quality paint, canvas and brushes. However, consider using a wooden mannequin as a reference, where you can adjust the shape of the body.
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What is your opinion of these artworks by Vincent Valdez? Do they inspire your own projects? How? Let me know in the comments!
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