Robert Valdes' moody explorations in painting suggests a kindred attachment to the subjects he depicts. The landscapes and objects Valdes paints are more reminiscent of classical painting than a contemporary viewpoint. Valdes is attuned with the sensibilities of painters of the Romantic Era of the eighteenth century, and also uses light and dark in a manner reminiscent of the chiaroscuro effect of Renaissance painting.

Valdes was born in the Bronx, New York in 1942. He studied at the Art Students League, the School of Visual Arts, and Parsons School of Design, New York. He has exhibited widely across the United States. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and has participated in many artist residencies. His work is in the collections of the Neuberger Museum of Art, SUNY Purchase and the New York Public Library Print Collection, among others.