About the Collector

Collector, Patron, Arts Advocate

Valdez began collecting art long before he realized it was a calling. In his early twenties, a dear friend—seeing the quiet hunger in him for beauty—suggested he buy a single piece for his new home. That moment, simple as a gesture and profound as a turning point, cracked open the door to an entirely new world. Once he stepped through, the floodgates opened. The ordinary dissolved, and a lifelong journey into color, form, and imagination came alive.

He has been chasing beauty ever since.

Valdez’s taste is a constellation—vast, shimmering, and unconfined by any single style. His home holds Japanese textile fabric art whose threads whisper centuries of tradition; Southwestern paintings warm as desert sand; watercolors that breathe like morning light; floral studies blooming in impossible stillness; music-themed works that echo his life as a pianist; original sculptures alive with texture and shadow; animation art rich with movement; and a kaleidoscope of other creations that defy easy categorization.

Each piece is chosen not just for its aesthetic but for its voice. He collects artwork that speaks, whispers, calls out, or hums a truth that only the heart can hear.

His travels have shaped his eye—wandering through galleries in Europe, open-air markets in Mexico, small-town studios across the United States, and many places where art lives quietly, waiting for the right soul to see it. From these journeys he has gathered paintings, textiles, prints, sculptures, and artifacts that now form a living archive of his experiences. Valdez gravitates toward one-of-a-kind originals and rare, limited-edition prints signed by the artists. He believes every piece should carry the imprint of the creator’s hand—the breath, the risk, the intimate spark of its making.

Over the years, he has worked closely with many local and international artists, commissioning pieces that reflect his personal stories, musical heritage, and emotional landscapes. These collaborations have often blossomed into friendships and creative partnerships.

But Valdez’s relationship with art extends beyond collecting. He has used his passion as a force for good—gathering artwork for silent auctions, organizing fundraisers, and supporting charitable events that bring beauty and purpose together. His work with the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra, where he serves on the board, allows him to merge two great loves: art and music. Through these efforts, he helps raise funds to nurture young musicians and keep the arts thriving for generations to come.

For Valdez, art is not a possession—it is a companion. A mirror. A map of the soul’s long journey. And his collection is not merely a gallery, but a living testament to the places he has traveled, the people who have shaped him, and the beauty he continues to seek with open eyes and an open heart.