A 14-year-old California artist whose colorful figurative paintings have attracted celebrity collectors and six-figure auction results will debut his first solo museum exhibition on Long Island this month.
“Profiles in Color: The Paintings of Andres Valencia,” featuring the work of Andres Valencia, will open Sunday, March 21, at the Nassau County Museum of Art and run through July 12. A VIP reception with the artist is scheduled for Friday, March 20.
The exhibition will showcase more than 30 paintings and drawings by the young artist, whose large-scale, vividly colored portraits and figures have gained international attention since his debut during Miami Art Week four years ago.
Curated by art industry veteran Simon Watson, the show will also include sculpture, video animation and objects from Valencia’s personal collection, bringing the total number of pieces on display to more than 50.
The museum sits on the former Frick family estate, a 145-acre Gold Coast property originally purchased in 1919 by industrialist Henry Clay Frick as a gift for his son and daughter-in-law.
Valencia began drawing and painting at age 5 after being inspired by art collected by his father. Teachers at his public school quickly recognized his talent, and his work soon drew attention from collectors and galleries.
Initially selling paintings for about $10,000 at his professional debut, Valencia’s works now regularly sell for between $50,000 and $150,000, with one painting fetching $160,000 at auction in Hong Kong through Phillips. The artist has built a global following online, with nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram.
His collectors include celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Sofía Vergara, soccer star Sergio Ramos, television host Michael Strahan and musicians including Karol G and V from BTS, who have commissioned portraits from the young artist.
Longoria is lending one of the paintings she owns for the museum exhibition.
Valencia’s work blends influences from historical masters such as Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso with contemporary artists including George Condo. His Mexican heritage and popular culture also play key roles in his imagery.
Beyond painting, Valencia creates fired clay sculptures and produces stop-motion animated videos using handmade historical character figures. The exhibition will include an immersive re-creation of his studio, featuring sculptures used in his animations and a short film showing the artist at work.
In addition to his growing art career, Valencia has donated more than $1 million worth of artwork to charitable causes, including fundraising efforts for amfAR and UNICEF.
His work is also held in private and public collections, including the Museo Jumex in Mexico City.
Last year, Valencia published his first book, “Painting Without Rules,” through Penguin Random House, offering readers a look inside his creative process and encouraging young artists to pursue their own creativity.
The Nassau County exhibition is expected to travel to other museums worldwide, with the next venue to be announced in June.
