Fernando Botero

Fernando Botero is unquestionably the most globally celebrated Colombian artist.

Colombian artist Fernando Botero (1932–2023) is one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. He initially began his career as a painter before expanding into sculpture in the 1970s. Widely recognized for his distinctive depictions of exaggerated and voluminous human proportions, Botero worked across various media. Regarding his signature inflated forms, Botero once recalled that, at the beginning of his creative journey, he was “excited about the dynamic of plasticity in these wild proportions,” discovering this mode of expression as an effective “way to create a language of plasticity that would be effective and that people would be touched by.” This approach became so unique that it earned the name “Boterismo”—a style characterized not only by exaggerated forms but also by a sense of humor that brings a smile to every viewer’s face, uniting people regardless of gender, age, or nationality.

Three of his monumental bronze works—Gatto (Cat, 1999), Roman Warrior (1986), and Mujer Fumando un Cigarrillo (Woman Smoking a Cigarette, 1987)—are part of the Cafesjian Art Trust collection and are currently on view in the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, where they have become signature highlights. Botero holds particular significance for the institution, as Cat was the very first artwork to arrive in Yerevan in 2002.