FERNANDO BOTERO
10 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS WHERE HIS VOLUPTUOUS FIGURES CAN BE FOUND
The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
In this oil and tempera on canvas painting, Fernando Botero portrays the Mona Lisa as a youthful figure. During the 1950s, the artist studied art in Europe and drew inspiration from the works of da Vinci. This piece stands as a testament to his lasting admiration for the Renaissance and Baroque masters. Although his iconic style developed differently in later decades, in the 1950s, Botero’s work held a balance of both restrained and bold brushstrokes, recalling influences of Robert Motherwell and Mark Rothko. Presently, this painting is housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, renowned for its collection of avant-garde masterpieces, courtesy of the Inter-American Fund.
Columbus Circle, New York
Fernando Botero’s Adam and Eve sculptures greet nearly 16 million people annually who visit the Warner Center in New York City’s Columbus Circle. The couple stands separately from one another, but they have become a substantial point of interest in one of the city’s busiest malls.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest museums in the United States, encompassing more than 5,000 years of human expression. Botero’s interpretations of Latin American street scenes are some of his most iconic works, representing the daily life of people in the region.
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, Maryland
A monumental horse sculpture can be found in the center of the courtyard of the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, a hotel owned by Under Armour founder, Kevin Plank. The horse stands over 8.5 ft tall, 12 ft long, and over 3,500 lbs.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Restort in Maui, Hawaii
A total of nine Botero sculptures can be found throughout this resort in the island of Maui. Grand Wailea’s Art Curator Michael Gilbert has said that Botero’s timeless and humorous sculptures often stop the resort’s visitors in their tracks as they admire and take photos of the works.
Banks of Singapore River, Singapore
Fernando Botero’s monumental bronze Bird sculpture has been placed on the banks of the Singapore River since 1990. Botero’s dove is a representation of peace, serenity, and joy, and embodies the joy of living and the power of optimism.
Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain
Botero’s hand sculpture is located on Madrid’s famous Paseo de la Castellana, next to the San Juan de la Cruz fountain. Acquired by the Telefónica Foundation, it was generously loaned to the city of Madrid for public display. This piece displays Botero’s reverence for the lavish forms found in Rubens’ paintings, but with Botero’s unique touch of excess.
Exchange Square, London, UK
This sculpture by Fernando Botero in London was specially commissioned in 1989 and is a crowd favorite amongst locals. The title of the sculpture is “Broadgate Venus” and it is made out of a patinated bronze. It is one of several pieces of public art on display in the square mile area known as the City of London. It lies amongst war memorials, statues of kings and queens, sculptures by other contemporary artists, and more.
Fernando Botero Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico
This sculpture of a Mother and Child by Fernando Botero is one of the highlights of the the Condado Beach area in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The park received its current name in the year 2000 when the sculpture was installed as part of the efforts to revitalize the area of Condado, the hotel and nightlife district to the east of Old San Juan.
“The Street” by Fernando Botero is an oil on canvas painting created by the artist in 1998. It is the largest oil on canvas ever work created by the artist and the only artwork that the artist ever made on 4 panels. The scene features 11 different characters engaging in everyday activities on a quintessential Latin American street.
Final Thought
Fernando Botero’s art has deeply resonated with people all over the world. For over twenty years, Art of the World Gallery has been honored to represent Botero in Houston, providing locals with the opportunity to appreciate his work firsthand while also enabling collectors to share them with new audiences, furthering Botero’s impact on art history and culture.
Beyond the professional relationship, gallery co-owners Liliana Molina and Mauricio Vallejo were long-time friends of the maestro Botero and traveled around the world with him countless times to his various studios and most important exhibitions. When the gallery opened its doors in 2016, it started off strong with a solo exhibition for Botero. A second solo exhibition was held for the artist in 2022 to celebrate his 90th birthday. The gallery continues to honor, celebrate, and expand his legacy by bringing his best works from his studio to the Houston gallery space, other international exhibitions, and the world’s most important art fairs.
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