Carlos Valdez-Kehoe [k’aɾlos val’des kɪoʊ:] is a multidisciplinary artist working with story-based research as primary material. Influenced by sociolinguistics and anthropology, Valdez looks into contextual elements such as imagery, symbols and code systems of written and spoken testimonies to expound upon the emotional mechanisms of change and adaptation behind them. His work, deeply ingrained in his migratory experience, explores in a recurring manner the notions of aspiration, mother tongue, national identity and cultural assimilation. Through diverse media such as performance, installation and gastronomy, Valdez seeks to generate an experiential narrative of that which goes beyond the communicative plane.

He studied Visual Arts at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, taking part of the interdisciplinary workshop ‘La Colmena’ during the 2017-2019 generation. In 2019 he won the Award for International Studies UNAM, carrying out studies in Intermedia at the Institut für Kunst und Kunsttheorie of the Universität zu Köln under the tutelage of Rainer Barzen and Nadine Oberste-Hetbleck. He has collaborated with artists such as Abraham Cruzvillegas and Chto Delat, as well as assisted in the production of artwork for Sol Lewitt and Mónica Mayer. His work has been presented in countries like Mexico, Germany, The Netherlands and Colombia, including spaces like the Universitary Museum of Contemporary Art MUAC (Mexico City, 2018) and the Institut für Kunst und Kunsttheorie (Cologne, 2019).