Who is Fernando Botero?
Fernando Botero was born on 14 April 1932 in Medellin, Colombia. Fernando Botero the one of the most famous artists in the Colombia died aged 91 on 16 September 2023. Lina Botero, the daughter of Fernando Botero told the Colombian radio station Caracol that her father died Friday morning. He was suffering from pneumonia complications and died of it.
Fernando Botero depicted politicians, animals, saints, and scenes from his childhood in an inflated and colorful form which was instantly recognizable. He was the artist who attained global fame and influence. His paintings were exhibited in museums globally. His imposing bronze sculptures can be seen in the parks and avenues of many European and Latin American capitals.
After his first solo exhibition in 1950 in the Bogota, he went to Europe and travelled to Spain, France and Italy. There he discovered classical art. Later He moved to Mexico, after becoming influenced by its muralists, and then to New York in 1960, arriving with “US$200 in my pocket”, he said in the 2012 interview.
Key facts about Fernando Botero:
- Fernando Botero has created more than 3000 paintings and 300 sculptures.
- In 2012, in an interview he said that he was working 10 hours a day as he had very little time left. He later said, “ I often think about and leaving this world and not be able to paint and it saddens me, I love doing it”.
About Fernando Botero’s work and style:
- Fernando Botero’s work includes landscapes and still-lifes.
- Fernando Botero concentrated on situational portraits.
Fernando Botero’s famous paintings:
- Mona Lisa, at the age of twelve (1959)
- Dead Bishops (1965)
- Still Life (1970)
- Homage to Bonnard (1972)
- Dancing in Colombia (1980)
Fernando Botero’s famous sculptures:
- Fernando Botero house
- EI Pajaro or the bird sculpture
- Man on the horse sculpture
- Sphinx sculpture
- Standing woman sculpture
About Fernando Botero’s donations:
- Fernando Botero donated his several artworks to museums in Bogota and Medellin which is his hometown.
- Fernando Botero donated 119 pieces of his artwork to the Museum of Antioquia, which included 23 bronze sculptures which are kept at the front of the museum. It is known as “Botero Plaza”.
- Fernando Botero also donated 123 pieces of his work and 85 pieces from his personal collection to the Museo Botero in Bogota in 2000.
- Another 4 sculptures can seen in Medellin’s San Antonio Plaza and Berrio Park.
- For the Colombian peace process, Fernando Botero sculpted and donated La Paloma de la Paz to the government of Colombia in 2016.
In a poignant reflection on the life of the renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, it becomes abundantly clear that dedication was a defining trait of his character. As eloquently expressed by his son, Juan Carlos Botero, in his book, Fernando’s commitment to his craft knew no bounds. There were no designated days of rest, no holidays, and no weekends in his creative calendar. Even during the most celebrated occasions, such as Christmas, his birthday, or New Year’s, Fernando Botero remained unwaveringly devoted to his artistry, forever painting his indelible mark on the world. It is this relentless passion and discipline that continued to inspire and shape his artistic legacy until the age of 91 when the world bid farewell to a true creative icon.
