Valérian Lenud, known as VALÉ, is a French visual artist whose work is rooted in contemporary urban art. Born in 1990 and now based between France and Mexico, he has developed an international artistic practice, creating murals and studio works around the world.
Through his major projects, Peacemakers and Inhabitants, VALÉ explores universal themes such as peace, childhood, cultural identity, and collective memory. His portraits, both powerful and sensitive, question the place of the human figure in public space and offer a socially engaged perspective on the contemporary world.
His practice unfolds in continuity between urban interventions, canvas paintings, and works on diverse materials, where texture, color, and composition play a central role. As a photographer, the images he gathers during his travels nourish his artistic research without ever overshadowing the pictorial gesture, creating a constant dialogue between fieldwork and studio practice.
VALÉ’s works have been exhibited in cities such as Paris, Melbourne, Mexico City, and Miami, and have been featured in media outlets including Forbes, StreetArt NYC, and Urban Arts Magazine.
Through a practice that is both engaged and humanistic, VALÉ develops a body of work that seeks to create connection, foster dialogue, and build bridges between cultures and territories.
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Peacemakers
Peacemakers is a transversal project I have been developing over the last years, exploring how art can serve as a powerful tool for change, using the image of children acting as messengers of peace.
This project exists both in the streets around the world and on canvases for exhibitions, bridging activism and artistic expression. I have painted my Peace Soldiers in cities across four continents (including Australia, Thailand, France, and Mexico) and exhibited them in galleries in Paris, Melbourne, and Mexico City.
Each piece is a visual call for empathy, unity, and hope, portraying children not as passive figures, but as active symbols of resilience and peace. The project raises awareness around the need for action in times of crisis, whether social, political, or environmental, by inviting viewers to imagine a future shaped by compassion rather than conflict.
Peacemakers is not only an artistic series, but a statement and commitment to the idea that creativity can heal, unite, and inspire. It is my way of reminding the world that even the smallest voices can carry the greatest strength.
Inhabitants
Inhabitants is a long-term artistic journey that explores cultural identity, diversity, and shared human heritage through portraiture. Developed over several years and still ongoing, this project lives both in the streets and in the gallery, shaped by travel, human connection, and immersive experiences within communities across the world.
Each artwork is inspired by my encounters with local cultures – from the Maya in Mexico to the Maasai in Kenya, and the Hmong in Northern Thailand – and reflects a deep engagement with their traditions, daily life, and visual language. The portraits I create are a tribute to the richness of their adornments, garments, and expressions, which act as powerful symbols of identity.
Painted on walls in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, France, Australia, Thailand, Kenya, and more, these works seek to celebrate cultural diversity while inviting viewers to reflect on what unites us. The same spirit is carried onto canvas works, which have been exhibited in galleries in France, Australia, and Mexico.
More than just a series, Inhabitants represents a way of life, one that embraces art as a tool for exchange, storytelling, and respect. It’s about meeting people, listening to their stories, and allowing those stories to live on through public and shared space. At its core, the project is a reminder that our differences are our collective strength, and that heritage, when shared, becomes a bridge rather than a boundary.