Fernando Botero (Colombian, 1932-2023)

Paintings

Fernando Botero Angulo is a Colombian painter and sculptor. Over the course of the 20th century, his signature style (known as “Boterismo”) has grown in popularity. He is now the best known living artist from Latin America. Whether in painting or in sculpture, Boterismo depicts people with large, exaggerated dimension -- often with a political or artistic criticism folded into its meaning. 

His work was first exhibited in 1948 and since then has been featured in a number of private and public galleries all over the world. For the last three decades Bolero has lived in Paris, where he continues to produce many notable works. His Abu Ghraib series (2005) brought him back into the forefront of many art critics’ minds, thanks to his deft touch and dark humor. Recently, he has stated that he would move away from his famous figure painting and return to still lifes and scenic portraiture. In a recent interview he stated, “After all this, I always return to the simplest things: Still lifes.” 

How many paintings and sculptures has Fernando Botero created?

Botero’s sculptures, paintings, and other pieces of art number in the hundreds -- if not thousands in total. His first piece of art was exhibited in 1948, and he’s continued to produce art every year since, during which time he’s become the best known living artist from Latin America. In 2000, Botero donated over 100 pieces of his work to the Museo Botero in Bogota. 

How often do Fernando Botero pieces come up for auction?

Pieces by Fernando Botero often come up at auction. This is thanks to the prolific nature of the artist as well as his extremely long career. While there may be a Botero piece that’s up for auction at any given time, his significant pieces are rarely re-sold, so it’s advised for the buyer to snap them up when they become available. 

How much is Fernando Botero’s art worth?

Botero’s sculptures frequently command top prices at auction, with many pieces valued in the millions of dollars. His pencil on paper creations and smaller works are estimated in the low thousands. A recent untitled oil on canvas painting by Botero was sold by the Miami Auction Gallery for $4,000 dollars. 

What Fernando Botero painting is the most valuable?

The Musicians (1991) is worth approximately 2.2 million USD. It is one of the best examples of the Botero aesthetic (commonly referred to as Boterismo) and shows the artist at the peak of his powers. While it is from a relatively late period of creation for Botero (the 1990s) it has many of the aesthetics common to the best Botero work. 

What are the most famous paintings by Fernando Botero?

Botero has an innumerable amount of great work, but some of the best of his canon can be found utilizing his trademark Boterismo aesthetic include the following: The Musicians (1991) Mona Lisa, Age Twelve (1959), Death of Pablo Escobar (1999), The Dancers (1987), The Presidential Family (1967), Pope Leo X (after Raphael) (1964)