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Mario Valdés, born in Madrid (Spain) in 1965, is an internationally recognized artist and M.D. His artistic journey has taken him to exhibitions across Spain, Portugal, Italy, The Netherlands, and Japan, with his works adorning numerous private collections.

For general enquiries or collaborations, please
email: mariovaldes@mariovaldes.com
Instagram: @mariovaldes_sculptor
Phone: +34 659457754

Photographer: Víctor Saiz

My work is a continuous meditation on the intrinsic relationship between human beings and the natural environment, exploring how this interaction profoundly influences our perception of reality and our mental well-being. As both an artist and a doctor, my artistic practice is situated at the confluence of health, art, and sustainability, serving as a bridge that connects the human soul with the soul of the world. Through sculptures, installations, and multimedia projects, I delve into themes of fragility, resilience, and the renewal inherent in natural and human cycles.

My projects, such as The Lords of the Limit, The Dream of the Trees, The Secret Forest, and Fragility and Beauty, manifest a deep commitment to sustainability and social critique, addressing the climate emergency, deforestation, and our collective responsibility towards the planet. By employing materials such as glass, burnt wood, and photographs integrated into organic structures, my works capture the ephemeral beauty of nature and evidence the scars we have inflicted on the natural landscape. The use of glass, in particular, symbolizes the fragility of our existence and that of the environment that surrounds us, inviting viewers to reflect on the delicate harmony we must strive to maintain with our planet and our inner selves.

In my artistic quest, I strive to merge the frontier between advanced technology and the natural environment by employing artificial intelligence (AI) as an essential tool in the creation of my works. This synthesis between AI and organic elements arises from a deep contemplation of our interconnected existence with the surroundings. Through the AI-generated images of lush forests, printed on glass and complemented with materials derived from nature (charred tree trunks from forest fires), my sculptures stand as a penetrating commentary on this interconnection.

The choice of these resources—intangible AI algorithms made visibly material on glass, juxtaposed with the tangible reality of plant-based supports—resonates with the dichotomy between the digital and natural worlds. This work challenges the viewer’s perceptions of art and technology and invites deeper reflection on the delicate balance that sustains our planet and our place within it. Thus, it stands as a testament to the potential of contemporary art to navigate and narrate the complexities of our time.

The use of AI in my creative process becomes a philosophical statement. It represents the convergence of our technological advancement with the imperative need to reconnect and preserve our natural environment. Through AI, I explore new ways of visualization and expression, creating images that, though generated by algorithms, evoke a deep emotional and cognitive resonance with themes of sustainability, vulnerability, and the intrinsic beauty of the world.

Ultimately, my work aspires to be a catalyst for dialogue and reflection on our relationship with the natural world and our role within it. Through the artistic exploration of the intersection between technology, mental health, and environmental health, I seek to contribute to a greater awareness of the urgency to live sustainably and with empathy towards all forms of life.

Individual Exhibitions

• 2024. Arte Laguna International Price. Especial Price Sustainability and Art. Venice, Italy.
• 2023. «Fragility and Beauty» Rooms of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid.
• 2023. «The Dream of Trees» Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. Bonsai Greenhouse Room.
• 2023. «The Lords of the Limit» CEART Museum Fuenlabrada. C Room.
• 2023. FLECHA, El Flechazo Award.
• 2022. «Nature at the Limit» AN-A Foundation. Madrid. Piece Selection.
• 2022. AN-A Foundation. Madrid. Piece Selection.
• 2022. «The Secret Forest» Contemporary Glass Art Museum of Alcorcón. MAVA. Main Hall.
• 2021. «Neoplatonic Symmetries» Contemporary Glass Art Museum of Alcorcón. MAVA. New Exhibition Hall.
• 2021. «Geometric Delights» Contemporary Glass Art Museum of Alcorcón. MAVA. Small Format Room.
• 2017. «From Conversation to Silence» Botí and Villaseñor Exhibition Halls. Torrelodones Town Council. Madrid.
• 2017. FERIARTE, Antique and Art Galleries Fair.
• 2013. FLECHA, Madrid Art Fair. Selected Artist.
• 1997. ARCO 97, ZDOSBOYS Gallery.
• 1996. ALIVAR Gallery. Madrid.
• 1994. B.D. Gallery. Madrid.
• 1994. Proyecto Quatro Gallery. Madrid.
• 1992. Las Rozas Cultural Center. Madrid.

Collective Exhibitions

• 2024. TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary. Organismo | Art in Applied Critical Ecologies.
• 2024. ArtMadrid 2024. Galería NUNO SACRAMENTO ARTE CONTEMPORANEA. Madrid.
• 2002. Sculpture Contest Fundación Caja Vital Kutxa. Sculptural Itinerary through Álava.
• 2002. Selection of Spanish designers. D.D.I. (Institute of Design Development). Brussels.
• 1999. Selection of Spanish designers. (Community of Madrid). Tokyo, Jerusalem, Rome.
• 1999. III National Sculpture Contest Ciudad de Leganés.
• 1998. ARCO 98, Selected designer for the exhibition Instituto Universidad Empresa.
• 1996. Madrid International Furniture Fair, Selected designer.
• 1995. Exhibition at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal. Selection of Spanish Sculptors by the
  Ibérico 2000 Foundation.
• 1994. Exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Selection of Spanish sculptors by the Ibérico
  2000 Foundation.
• 1993. Exhibition at the Diamante Museum, Ferrara, Italy. Selection of Spanish sculptors by the Ibérico 2000
  Foundation.
• 1992. Exhibition Hall of the College of Civil Engineers of Madrid.
• 1992. Alcobendas Cultural Center.
• 1992. MAEGHT Gallery. Barcelona. Selection of Spanish sculptors by the Ibérico 2000 Foundation.
• 1991. «Espacio Pignatelli» Pablo Gargallo Museum. Zaragoza.
• 1991. Municipal Exhibition Hall of La Coruña.
• 1991. «Sa Nostra» Exhibition Hall. Palma de Mallorca.
• 1999. National Sculpture Museum of Valladolid.
• 1998. Lavapiés Cultural Center. Madrid.
• 1998. «Casarrubuelos» Gallery. Madrid.

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