In Santiago, Chile, Palolo Valdés would be considered as close to a celebrity as visual artists get. His sculptures have been selected by past presidents as gifts of state. He is a newsmaker who constantly appears in the society pages of local magazines and newspapers. Yet outside of Chile, I don't think Palolo is as well recognized as his unique contribution to sculpture should allow.

I first met Palolo when he was living in New York City in 1983. I lost touch with him for years but contacted him on a trip to Chile in 1994. The raw power of several of his sculptures blew me away. Palolo casts aluminum and bronze over river rocks held together with steel armatures. The result is a primitive looking form that appears to have been sculpted by Vulcan himself and erupted onto the face of the earth.

For further information about Palolo Valdés, you may contact him directly by mail by writing to: