Barcelona's Palau Martorell opens city's first exhibition on Fernando Botero

Barcelona's Palau Martorell exhibition center has opened the city's first-ever exhibition dedicated to the late Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

Titled Fernando Botero: A Universal Maestro, the exhibition pays tribute to one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. It is the largest show ever held in Spain on Botero and explores his "extraordinary versatility" across various artistic techniques.

More than 110 pieces by the artist are on display at Palau Martorell, most of which have never been seen before, as they belong to private collections.

Among the standout works are La Menina, según Velázquez, which had never been shown publicly until as it was exhibited in Botero's Paris studio, and Homenaje a Mantegna (1958), recently discovered in a private collection in the United States.

The exhibition showcases a diverse range of techniques, including oil on canvas, acrylics, and sketches, offering insight into Botero's "intense, prolific, and exceptional" production and his continuous "experimentation" with artistic methods.

It also highlights Botero's deep connections with Spain and Italy, which played a crucial role in shaping his artistic journey. A self-taught artist, Botero was heavily influenced by masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Titian, and Picasso.

During his time in Italy in the 1950s, he studied the vibrant colors of Quattrocento paintings, a period known for works such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and Michelangelo's David sculpture, as well as the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. This period profoundly influenced Botero, leading him to develop his signature style of exaggerated forms and volumes.

In Barcelona, Botero is best known for his large bronze sculpture El Gato de Botero (Botero's Cat), located on La Rambla del Raval.

Botero war born in Colombia on April 19, 1932 in Medellín, Colombia and passed away on September 15, 2023 in Montecarlo, Monaco.

The exhibition runs until July 20, with tickets priced at €16.