Botero Sculptures Transform Rome Into Open-Air Museum

A woman take a picture at Botero's "Seated Woman" sculpture in Rome's Piazza San Silvestro, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Fernando Botero's

The streets and piazzas of Rome have been transformed into an open-air museum showcasing eight voluminous and whimsical sculptures by the late Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The exhibition serves as a tribute to Botero, who passed away on September 15, 2023, at the age of 91 in Monaco, where he maintained a studio. Having lived in the Italian town of Pietrasanta in the Tuscany region for many years, Botero was laid to rest next to his third wife, the artist Sophia Vari.

Botero's daughter, Lina Botero, expressed that Italy held a special place in her father's heart, referring to it as a second home country for him. All the sculptures featured in the exhibition were created by Botero during his time in Italy, influenced by his admiration for the Renaissance masters.

While Botero's monumental bronze sculptures have been displayed in various parks and avenues across Europe and Latin America, this marks the first time they are being showcased on such a scale in Rome. The exhibition, which concludes on October 1, offers art enthusiasts a Botero trail starting from Villa Borghese park, where the sculpture 'Lying Woman' overlooks Rome's rooftops towards St. Peter's Basilica from the Pincio Terrace.

Botero's daughter highlights Italy's significance to her father.

Botero's sculptures in Rome pay tribute to the late artist.

Exhibition features sculptures created during Botero's time in Italy.

Botero's sculptures challenge conventional beauty standards.

Residents and visitors captivated by Botero's distinctive style.

Sculptures displayed in Rome for the first time on a large scale.

Botero's art focuses on capturing volume, not depicting overweight individuals.

Exhibition organized by Fernando Botero Foundation, BAM art events, and Il Cigno publishing house.

Sculptures placed in various locations across Rome, forming a Botero trail.

In Piazza del Popolo, the sculptures 'Adam' and 'Eve' stand facing each other, while 'Horse with Bridle' can be found on the bustling Via del Corso. The journey culminates near Piazza di Spagna with the sculpture 'Seated Woman.'

Residents and visitors alike have been captivated by Botero's distinctive style, with one observer noting, 'We could tell from afar those are Boteros.' The sculptures challenge conventional beauty standards, as another onlooker remarked, 'Where skinny is beautiful, he does the exact opposite.'

Lorenzo Zichichi, a representative of one of the exhibition's co-organizers, emphasized that it would be inaccurate to label the sculptures as 'fat.' Zichichi clarified that Botero's fascination lay in capturing volume rather than depicting individuals as overweight. The exhibition was presented by the Fernando Botero Foundation, BAM art events, and Il Cigno publishing house.