The art world has been captivated by the mature creative vision and bold brushstrokes of Andrés Valencia. The San Diego-based prodigy, who was racking up six-figure sales before he even hit middle school, paints fractured faces that nod distinctly to Picasso. Now, Valencia is returning to Art Miami with a fresh body of work and a global fanbase eager for his latest pieces. The artist’s work will be highlighted at a VIP preview on December 2, confirming that age is irrelevant when it comes to skill.
When did you attend your first Miami Art Week? My first solo exhibition at Art Miami was in 2021. It was wonderful working with the Perry Cohen Foundation that year, and Sofía Vergara was one of the first people to purchase a painting—she now owns two of my works. The most memorable moment was simply watching hundreds of people visit my booth and get genuinely excited about my art. That was incredibly inspiring to see.
How has your work changed since then? My style is similar in some fundamental ways, but it has definitely evolved. I enjoy exploring and learning different styles, often by watching artists I look up to. All artists naturally evolve over time as they learn and explore new ground.
What will be different about your presentation this year? Every year, we aim to showcase a fresh collection of paintings, and they seem to be getting bigger! I can’t say exactly what we’ll unveil at Art Miami yet, but it will certainly be special.
You are a self-taught artist. How amazing! I primarily learned on my own, but I recently started working with an art professor to study realism. I genuinely enjoy learning, and realism has been a fun challenge. I plan to continue exploring other styles. Cubism is still what I love the most, but mixing different approaches is fun, too.
What do you like about being an artist? The internet has made art more accessible to people all around the world. I feel like I’m living in a special time for art, where we can reach more people faster than ever. I also love reading about art history—it’s interesting to learn about the legends of the past who have amazing stories we should all study. Ultimately, I love everything about being an artist. It is simply who I am; it lets me express myself without rules.
What has art done for you? Art allows me to express myself, but more than that, I create paintings that make people happy. That positive impact is important to me. I’m currently collaborating with Mourlot Editions, an amazing printmaker from France who worked with masters like Picasso, Matisse, and Calder. We just released a print series with them. My art has truly allowed me to collaborate with extraordinary people.
Tell us about the book you published in March with Penguin Random House. It was a project that started two years ago. We announced the book when I was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! It’s available at all major bookstores and online, telling the story of my art career with over 100 paintings I’ve created.
Would you ever dabble in other art mediums? I really like sculpting and have been doing it for several years. Woodcuts will be my next medium to explore. Working with people like Bernie Chase (Chase Contemporary) and Larry Warsh has definitely inspired me to keep creating in other mediums and expanding my ideas.
Are you a collector? I collect antique toys, some art, sports cards, and Pokémon. I generally like vintage things.
What’s next? I started painting around age four or five and was ten when I had my first solo show. I’m 14 now, and I will be announcing my upcoming museum exhibition very soon. I’m very excited about that!
