Born in 1959 in Barcelona, Spain, Montse Valdés began drawing at an early age and spent four years in Paris and one year in Asia during her youth. Her travels back then have had an effect on her art, and following a brief sojourn in the world of theater, she decided to pursue painting at age 21 and began to create the wealth of generously sized, ethereal and peaceful portraits, nude paintings and figurative works for which she is known.
From 1981 to 1984, Valdés studied drawing, painting and pastel techniques at the Isidre Vilaseca Studio in Girona and the Artur Aldomà Puig Studio in Barcelona. For a few years beginning in 1985, she attended the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where she discovered that “the artist makes him- or herself.”
Valdés has since perfected her signature technique of applying thickly textured pastel oils with a palette knife, layering colors with sweeping strokes and dots to create her images. Viewers of her extraordinary large-format works can detect the contours of these strokes and rich swathes of color up close — one must take a few steps back to fully absorb the painstakingly detailed faces of her subjects.
Over the course of her painting career, Valdés has participated in more than 100 art fairs and exhibitions throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. She is represented by Villa del Arte Galleries, which has galleries in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Palm Beach.
Find original Montse Valdés paintings on 1stDibs.
8-1-21, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
6-1-21, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
22-12-24, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
1-1-13-14, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
1-4-22, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
4-5-19, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2-5-17 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
1-5-25, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$15,412
6-12-12-14, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Mixed Media, Oil, Canvas
2-5-17, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2-5-12, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
6-8-10 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Nude Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
$43,637
27-3-12h Diptych - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
5-5-19, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
3-5-19, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
1-5-22, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
4-1-16, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$43,643
4-9-22 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
1-8-17 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
$63,033
1-5-23 (diptych), 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
7-1-21 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
3-1-17 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
4-5-17 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
$2,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 55 in W 49 in D 1 in
Afrocentric Radiance
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In a vibrant celebration of African heritage and beauty, our protagonist, a stunning black African woman, graces the scene with her majestic presence. Crowned with a voluminous afro ...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 36 in D 1 in
Homecoming To The Roots - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Africa People
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting is a reflection of the world I grew up in and the memories that continue to shape my sense of belonging. It captures that special time of the year when children return ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 36 in D 1 in
Genesis 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Culture Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This striking work explores African cultural identity as both personal and collective memory. Through the interplay of concealment and adornment, it presents the African body as a sa...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$2,800
H 40 in W 32.5 in
Colorful Contemporary Figurative Painting Female Portrait "Untitled II"
By Khalid Nadif
Located in East Quogue, NY
Bright colored contemporary figurative portrait painting by Moroccan artist Khalid Nadif. The painting is offered in a simple wood frame. Size: 40 x 32.5 inches (framed) Signed ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Fellow Feeling
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Now ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 21 in D 1 in
In Between Period -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, People, Modern Life
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The painting captures the bittersweet essence of post-graduation limbo. As I stood on the threshold, degree in hand, the initial euphoria of accomplishment slowly gave way to an unse...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$2,800
H 40 in W 32.5 in
Colorful Contemporary Figurative Female Portrait Painting "Untitled I"
By Khalid Nadif
Located in East Quogue, NY
Bright colored contemporary figurative painting by Moroccan artist Khalid Nadif. The painting is offered in a simple wood frame. Size: 40 x 32.5 inches. Signed on the back by t...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$7,000
H 48 in W 36 in
"Everywhere and Nowhere", Sarah Detweiler "Hidden Mother" Woman in Grass
By Sarah Detweiler
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Everywhere and Nowhere" is an original painting by Sarah Detweiler and is made from oil paint on gallery wrap canvas with preserved moss edges. This piece measures...
Canvas, Oil, Found Objects, Mixed Media
$12,000
H 84 in W 60 in
Out Far and in Deep - large, emotive, abstract figurative, oil, acrylic, canvas
By Fiona Ackerman
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This haunting abstract portrait of several figures in muted earthy colours is by Fiona Ackerman. Under a gray-blue sky, a central figure, an older man stands on the earth as fragment...
Canvas, Acrylic Polymer, Mixed Media, Oil
$3,080Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 48 in D 1 in
Solid Backbone -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men Love Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
My solid backbone, a pillar of strength, A foundation of power, a source of great length, It supports me through life's ups and downs, A constant companion, a source of profound. Sh...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Living in the Moment of Peace 2
By Joshua Salami
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Living in the moment of peace is depicting the moment of finding peace, serenity, and contentment within yourself and all sentient beings around you. Shipping Procedure Ships in a ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 36 in D 1 in
Essence of Life -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Green
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Can you imagine life as if it were a gigantic rollercoaster ride of emotions? Just like on a rollercoaster, there are moments when we feel incredibly happy, and there are times when ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Sold
H 51.19 in W 63.78 in D 1.58 in
4-5-17, 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Sold
H 63.78 in W 51.19 in D 1.58 in
1-2-24 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media
Sold
H 63 in W 51.19 in
10-1-21 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Oil, Canvas
Sold
H 51.19 in W 76.78 in
1-4-22 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 76.78 in W 51.19 in
1-9-22 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 51.19 in W 57.49 in
6-9-21 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 76.78 in W 51.19 in
1-1-22 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 63.78 in W 102.37 in
1-10-21 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 51.19 in W 76.78 in
9-5-21 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 48.04 in W 65.36 in
2-8-21 (Triptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 51.19 in W 76.78 in
2-4-21 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 47.25 in W 78.75 in
1-8-21 (Diptych) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Montse Valdés
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
“I paint the human figure and explore further till I reach the Beauty of Being, the Soul.. the part of Human Being where everything is in total Serenity, Goodness and Harmony, where ...
Canvas, Oil