Renowned Colombian Artist Fernando Botero Passes Away at the Age of 91

Colombian artist Fernando Botero, famous for his sculptures and paintings of large-bodied figures, has passed away at the age of 91. His art often featured oversized people and animals, but he also delved into politics and other serious subjects. President Gustavo Petro referred to him as "the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues." Botero was residing in Monaco and had been suffering from pneumonia, according to his daughter Lina. Local media consider him the greatest Colombian artist of all time, and his hometown, Medellin, has declared a week of mourning. Botero, born in 1932 to a traveling salesman, ventured to Europe in his twenties where he discovered classical art before eventually settling in the United States. In the late 1950s, he had a breakthrough, exploring a new dimension that emphasized volume, monumentality, extravagance, and extremity. In a 2014 interview with Spain's El Mundo newspaper, Botero explained that regardless of whether he painted women, men, dogs, or horses, he always focused on capturing voluminous forms. He clarified that he did not paint "fat" women, but rather depicted volumes. Among his more grim creations are pieces that portray Colombian guerrilla fighters and scenes from earthquakes. In the 2000s, Botero produced artworks depicting the torture that occurred at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq under US administration. According to Sotheby's auction house, any painting or sculpture by Botero fetches over $2 million.