Fernando Botero

Born in Medellín, Colombia in 1932, Fernando Botero is one of the most recognized artists of his time. A painter and sculptor, he created an instantly identifiable style, "Boterismo," in which figures, animals and objects gain in volume and presence. Throughout his career, he kept the Colombian and Latin American essence of his work.

His work, ranging from bullfighting scenes to monumental bronze sculptures, is sought after around the world today. Galerie de Bellefeuille is proud to count Fernando Botero among the modern masters it presents.

The Language of Boterismo

With Fernando Botero, everything begins with volume. In a Fernando Botero painting, forms swell far beyond reality, not to show excess but to convey sensuality and presence. This exaggeration, known as Boterismo, became a genuine way of seeing.

His early works drew on Gustave Doré's engravings for the Divine Comedy and on bullfight posters; his studies in Madrid and Florence then gave him the sense of composition of the Renaissance masters.

This taste for generous, sensual volume connects him to other artists at the gallery, such as Peter Anton's indulgent sculptures.

Signature Series: The Bullfight

The bullfight is one of his most famous subjects. In it Botero returns to the world of his childhood: the matador, the crowd, the ritual of the arena. Each Fernando Botero artwork in the series blends celebration and gravity, colour and tension.

From Canvas to Bronze: The Monumental Sculptures

From the 1970s, settled in Paris, Botero turned to sculpture. In bronze, his rounded figures gained weight and presence. A Fernando Botero sculpture, whether a cat, a horse, a reclining woman or an oversized hand, was installed in major public spaces from New York to Paris. In Medellín, the works he gave to his city turned the Plaza Botero into an open-air museum.

These monumental bronzes continue a tradition the gallery still champions, alongside Jeff Koons's monumental sculptures.

Collecting Fernando Botero

To own a work by Fernando Botero is to own a piece of modern art history. His paintings, drawings and bronzes are found in major museums and numerous private collections, and demand remains strong on the market.

Collectors drawn to bold, instantly recognizable sculpture will find that spirit in Richard Orlinski's pop sculptures. To discover Fernando Botero art for sale, our team welcomes you in Montreal and Toronto.

Career Highlights

Born in Medellín, Colombia in 1932, Fernando Botero developed his style, Boterismo, from the late 1950s.
He studied volume and perspective in Madrid and Florence, under the Renaissance masters.
He divided his career between painting and bronze sculpture.
His subjects stayed local, but his language became universal and brought him worldwide success.
He died on 15 September 2023, aged 91, in Monaco.

Notable Exhibitions

First exhibition in Bogotá in 1951; prize at the Salón Nacional de Artistas in 1952.
La Corrida series, Marlborough Gallery, New York, 1985.
Monumental sculptures on the Champs-Élysées, Paris, 1992.
Exhibitions in major museums worldwide; Plaza Botero, Medellín.