Fernando Botero

Fernando Botero (1932–2023) was a Colombian artist renowned for his distinctive style of exaggerated proportions, creating paintings, drawings and sculptures that evoke tenderness, humor or political critique. Born in Medellín, Botero was initially inspired by bullfighting and pre-Colombian, Spanish and Mexican art, including the political murals of Diego Rivera. He first gained recognition in Colombia at a young age before traveling to Madrid, Paris and Florence to study classical and modern art.

 

Botero’s style, marked by voluminous forms, emerged in the 1960s and earned him international acclaim. His works include situational portraiture, still lifes and political commentary, such as his Abu Ghraib series, addressing U.S. military torture in Iraq. Botero also explored themes of Colombian violence and spirituality, exemplified in his Vía Crucis: La Pasión de Cristo series.

 

From the 1970s, Botero began sculpting monumental bronzes, which were exhibited globally in cities like New York, Paris and Rome. A generous philanthropist, he donated significant works to Colombian institutions, including the Museo de Antioquia in Medellín and the Botero Museum in Bogotá, which houses his collection of his art alongside works by European masters.

 

Botero passed away in Monaco at age 91, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant, influential art housed in major museums worldwide, including MoMA, the Hirshhorn and the Vatican Museum.