Description
Fernando Botero (1932–2023) was a Colombian artist renowned for his distinctive style characterized by exaggerated, voluptuous forms and figures. Born in Medellín, Colombia, Botero began his artistic journey at a young age, drawing inspiration from pre-Columbian art, Spanish colonial church paintings, and European masters. Though he briefly studied in Madrid and Florence, Botero was largely self-taught, forging a unique visual language that would become instantly recognizable around the world.
Botero’s art spans painting, sculpture, and drawing, all marked by his signature “Boterismo”—a style where figures, whether human, animal, or object, are rendered in exaggerated proportions. While often interpreted as humorous or satirical, his works also explore serious themes such as political violence, war, and injustice. His 2005 series depicting the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, for example, revealed a deep moral engagement beneath the surface of his plump figures.
Despite his global success, Botero maintained strong ties to Colombia, often drawing on its people, landscapes, and turbulent history. He donated numerous works to Colombian museums and public spaces, most notably the Museo Botero in Bogotá and the Plaza Botero in Medellín, where several of his bronze sculptures stand.
Botero’s work has been exhibited internationally, from the Champs-Élysées in Paris to Park Avenue in New York, earning him a reputation as one of the most important Latin American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. His bold style, often misunderstood as simply whimsical, celebrates volume, sensuality, and the human condition with both humor and gravity.
Fernando Botero passed away in 2023, leaving behind a vast and influential body of work that continues to inspire and provoke reflection.
