About

Joseph Valente

Pop culture, anime, and the artwork of artists such as Katsuhiro Otomo, Takashi Murakami, Cesar Legaspi,  and Ruiz Ocampo, are among the many sources of inspiration for Joseph Valente. His talent is evident in the variety of forms he works in, such as illustration, manga, realism, and abstraction. Joseph Valente is an artist who works in a variety of media, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, digital art, and pen & ink. 

Artist Statement

My artistic journey began when I was very young, sparked by my cousin who introduced me to the vivid worlds of comic books. He taught me how to draw superheroes, robots, and spaceships, pulling me into the thrilling universes of Robotech, Macross, Nausicaa, Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and DC. These early influences planted the seeds of creativity that would flourish throughout my life.

In elementary and high school, my passion for drawing grew stronger. My notebooks became filled with sketches of superheroes and robots, their dynamic forms battling across the pages. Even in church on Sundays, I couldn’t resist the urge to draw, often sketching the backs of people seated in front of me, capturing their postures and characteristics with a mix of observation and imagination.

College at Silliman was a pivotal time for me as an artist. I joined the art organization, where I not only honed my skills but also gained valuable experience through participating in art exhibits. This exposure broadened my artistic horizons and deepened my love for creating. However, after graduation, the demands of the corporate world took over, and my art was relegated to the precious few moments of free time I could find.

2003 / Red Room / Acrylic on Canvas / 24x24"

In 2010, I took a leap of faith and decided to leave the corporate environment behind to fully dedicate myself to painting and drawing. This decision opened up new opportunities—I connected with galleries, participated in art shows, and began to establish myself in the art world. Then, in 2013, my experience in the corporate sector came full circle when I was invited to help launch a social enterprise. I took on multiple roles, managing the training department, overseeing operations, and driving product development. Despite the demands of this work, I continued to create, focusing on abstract pieces and illustrations in my free time.

Exhibitions

The 2020 lockdown brought a unique opportunity to revisit a creative idea I had first explored in college—a simple standing pose that I had drawn countless times. This concept, inspired by the idea of paper dress-up dolls, evolved into characters dressed in the latest streetwear—shirts, shades, shoes, and whatever else was cool at the time. While my heart remains drawn to surrealism and abstract art, I’ve never let go of my love for comic book and manga styles. I believe that certain ideas demand specific forms of expression, and when that’s the case, I stay true to the form that best conveys the message. Experimenting with different styles became a vital escape, offering a burst of creative energy that helped shatter the monotony and ease the anxiety that filled those uncertain times.

During the lockdown, I sketched poses and designs for characters like Machine Guy and Nature Girl, starting on paper and eventually moving to digital drawing, a medium that allowed me to bring my ideas to life more quickly and with great flexibility.

Thank you for reading this far! I hope you enjoy my art as I've enjoyed creating them!