Valentinas Antanavicius was born on 2 May 1936 in the village of Kuslikiai, Sakiai Region, Lithuania. During the period of 1951-1956, he studied in Kaunas Secondary Art School. In 1956, he entered the Faculty of Graphic Arts at the Lithuanian State Art Institute. In 1957, he switched to the Faculty of Painting. In 1962, the artist defended his graduation thesis on monumental painting, fresco and mosaics. During 1961-1999, he worked as a teacher at M.K. Ciurlionis Art Gymnasium.

In 1962, he debuted at the First National Portrait Exhibition. In 1964, Valentinas Antanavicius became a member of the Artists' Union.

In 1966, he held his first solo exhibition at the National Library. In 1969, 1976, he arranged solo exhibitions of paintings at Panevezys Drama Theatre. In 1970-1987, he taught at the Children's Art School. In 1986, the artist held his personal exhibition at Vilnius Exhibition Hall.

In 1987, he held his personal exhibition at the Museum of Foreign Art in Latvia. In 1989, he is appointed as the Senior Assistant at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1994, the artist is appointed as Associate Professor of the Department for Monumental Art at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts. In 1996, he held his anniversary exhibition at the Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius. The artist has created over a thousand paintings and assemblages, approximately 50 graphic prints, about 150 ex libris and 100 watercolours. Most of these works have found their homes all over Lithuania and other countries.