Biography

De Wain Valentine was an American sculptor born in 1936 in Fort Collins, Colorado, and passed away on February 20, 2022. He was a prominent figure in the Light and Space movement of the 1960s, which was centered in California. Valentine's work is characterized by minimalist sculptures made from materials such as translucent glass, fiberglass, and cast polyester resin. These materials allowed him to create pieces with smooth, machine-like surfaces that play with light and space, making his work highly distinctive and influential. Valentine's notable works include 'Diamond Column' and 'Double Pyramid,' both housed in the Honolulu Museum of Art. His sculptures are celebrated for their innovative use of industrial materials and techniques, which challenged traditional boundaries between art and manufacturing. Valentine's work is collected for its aesthetic appeal and its role in the development of minimalist and contemporary art. He spent much of his career in Gardena, California, where he continued to explore the possibilities of light and material in sculpture.