A little more than a year after his death, the Palau Martorell in Barcelona pays tribute to Fernando Botero with the most complete exhibition of his pictorial work ever held in Spain. Curated by Lina Botero and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, "Fernando Botero, a universal master" brings together more than 110 unpublished pieces from private collections, including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings and sculptures. It also highlights his relationship with Spain and Italy, exhibiting for the first time in the country works such as a version of Las Meninas by Velázquez and Homage to Mantegna, reflecting the influence of the classical masters in his art.
Fernando Botero: life and career
Born in Medellin in 1932, Fernando Botero became one of the most iconic figures of contemporary art thanks to his unmistakable style: Boteroism, characterized by voluptuous forms and vibrant colors. His career took off in the 1950s, when he began to reinterpret classical themes with a playful and critical approach. Throughout his career, he exhibited in the world's most important museums and brought his art to public spaces, with monumental sculptures in cities such as New York, Paris and Barcelona.
Beyond his distinctive aesthetic, Botero addressed social and political issues, such as the violence in Colombia and the torture in Abu Ghraib prison, showing his commitment to the reality of his time. His legacy, now honored in this exhibition, lives on through his unmistakable way of seeing the world, combining beauty, irony and social criticism.
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