Fernando Botero was a Colombian artist and sculptor best known for his large, exaggerated figurework.
- Died: September 15, 2023 (Who else died on September 15?)
- Details of death: Died in Monte Carlo, Monaco, of pneumonia at the age of 91.
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Fernando Botero’s legacy
Born in Medellín, Colombia, to a traveling salesman and a seamstress, Botero took interest in the art featured in the colonial churches of his region. By 16, his illustrations appeared in the regional newspaper, El Colombiano. His first exhibit came in 1948, alongside other artists from the region, and his first one-man exhibition followed three years later in Bogotá.
In the 1950s, he moved to Europe, living in France, Italy, and elsewhere. He studied Renaissance art and began having regular exhibitions. By the end of the decade, he won the Salón de Artistas Colombianos. In the 1960s, Botero moved into sculpture, with his work appearing internationally.
Though his early work focused on people and family, in the 2000s, it took a political turn when he did a series on the torture of incarcerated people at the U.S. military prison Abu Ghraib. His series of more than 85 paintings and 100 drawings that illustrated what he referred to as the “poison” of those actions captured worldwide acclaim.
Botero returned to more serene subjects in his later years. Over the decades, he drew great attention for his large, rotund figures, his cartoonish cats, and the whimsical, almost playful nature of his work. His sculptures and paintings continue to be displayed in cities across the world.
Tributes to Fernando Botero
Full obituary: The New York Times
