If you flip through your childhood sketchbooks, you’ll probably find stick figures, colorful houses, and smiling family portraits. But 13-year-old painting prodigy Andres Valencia’s creativity is far beyond his years. Known as one of the most accomplished young artists in the world, his bold, Cubism-inspired works have captivated the global art scene, with some even selling for six figures. Now, Valencia has released a book titled Painting Without Rules, offering a glimpse into his extraordinary artistic journey and creative processes.
Andres was immersed in creativity from an early age, having grown up in a home filled with art in San Diego. The self-taught artist began creating his own art at around 5 years old, and was first inspired by the artworks his father collected, including pieces by Raphael Mazzucco and Salvador Dalí. He became particularly fascinated with a painting in his home collection by RETNA, meticulously replicating it again and again as a form of self-training.
Andres continued to learn by studying art history at home, watching painting tutorials online, and even trying his hand at sculpture. Today, the young artist draws inspiration from a diverse range of iconic artists, including Gerhard Richter, Vincent van Gogh, Amedeo Modigliani, Francis Bacon, and Michelangelo, all admired for their distinctive styles.
Typically starting with small sketches and guided by a color wheel, Valencia allows intuition to take over once the brush hits the canvas. He uses a combination of oil stick, oil, and acrylic paint, transforming blank canvases into vibrant, expressive pieces that evoke the spirit of Picasso. According to his publicist, Sam Morris, Andre’s’ ideas often come at night—sometimes so vividly that he jumps out of bed at 10 p.m. to start painting. He’s often juggling a few canvases at once, and somehow manages to finish each one in just a few days.
The now young teen made his artistic debut in 2021 at Art Miami, becoming the youngest artist in the fair’s history to exhibit his work. Since then, Andres has built a fan base of over 280,000 followers on Instagram, where people are captivated by behind-the-scenes videos that offer a glimpse into his creative process. He recently created a striking Cubist-style portrait of Eva Longoria—one of several celebrity admirers of his work. And last year, Andres took his talents to late-night television, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Now with his new book, Painting Without Rules published by DK Penguin Random House, Andres offers a glimpse into his creative world, revealing how his bold, figurative works take shape. Alongside behind-the-scenes glimpses of the young artist in his studio, the book features more than 100 of his pieces, showcasing the full range of his talent.
Check out some pages from the book below, and if you’re inspired, you can learn more and grab your own copy on the DK Penguin Random House website.
13-year-old painting prodigy Andres Valencia’s Cubism-inspired artworks have captivated the global art scene.
The talented young artist has recently released a book titled Painting Without Rules, offering a glimpse into his extraordinary artistic journey.
Andres made his artistic debut in 2021 at Art Miami, becoming the youngest artist in the fair’s history to exhibit his work.
The book’s pages offer a glimpse into Valencia’s creative world, revealing how his bold, figurative works take shape.
Andres Valencia: Instagram | Book
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Andres Valencia.
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