exhibition
Fernando Botero
exhibition
Fernando Botero
Exhibition at the Palau Matorell
Fernando Botero: A universal master
Fernando Botero: A universal master
Exhibition at the Palau Matorell
until 20 July 2025
In this major retrospective, the Palau Matorell is showing the master of exuberant forms – no, not Rubens, but Fernando Botero.
The artist, who died in 2023, will be presented in Barcelona with a selection of his most famous paintings and sculptures. It is the largest exhibition of Botero’s work ever to be held in Spain. He is one of the most important artists of the 20th century and the best known in Latin America.
His original and innovative creative approach, through a language of monumental volumes and vibrant colours, gave rise to his own style, ‘Boteroism’, which makes his works instantly recognisable.
Fernando Botero
Tickets
The details
at a glance
Exhibition:
Fernando Botero: A universal master
Exhibition at the Palau Matorell
until 20 July 2025
Opening hours:
Daily, 10.00 – 20.00 h
Prices:
EUR 16 for adults and children aged 13 and over
EUR 14 for senior citizens over 65, students (with ID), people with disabilities and one accompanying person.
EUR 9 for children between 6 and 12 years
EUR 19 for adults – Open Day
EUR 49 Family Pack
We offer regular and reduced admission at the same price. Unfortunately, no children under the age of 13 tickets…
Audio guide
Available in Catalan, Spanish or English for EUR 2.
Who was
Fernando Botero?
Fernando Botero (Medellín, Colombia, 1932 – Monaco, 2023) is a Colombian painter and sculptor known for his unique style of depicting people and animals in exaggerated, rounded and voluminous proportions.
His works often combine humour and satire to comment on social, political and cultural issues, achieving significant international recognition in both painting and sculpture.
Botero became one of Latin America’s best-known artists, with his works being exhibited in major museums worldwide and his characteristic formal language becoming a hallmark of his art.
I have to admit, I’ve never been to the Palau Matorell, although there have been quite a few good exhibitions here. Now I had a working weekend in Barcelona and the Botero exhibition was at the top of my list.
The Palau is a stately building from the 19th century and has been used as an exhibition centre since 1994. This year it is dedicated to Botero’s retrospective.
The exhibition begins on the ground floor, in the heart of the palace – in the covered atrium. Here you can first watch a film or immerse yourself in the art. The first rooms show life in Colombia. We see street scenes, a picnic that doesn’t go according to plan, scenes showing the end of a party, musicians, but also political themes.
About the exhibition: A universal master
Fernando Botero
We then come to the atrium and find two of Botero’s most famous works and his self-portrait: the nude in ‘The Bath’ and the ‘Ballerina on the Pole’ are certainly the best-known works.
These two women are typical of Botero’s work. He did not simply paint ‘fat people’, they are rather a well thought-out artistic means of addressing different social and aesthetic themes.
He wanted to develop his own visual language with his art and thus set himself apart from everyone else – ‘Boteroism’. At the same time, he wanted his figures to radiate strength, vitality and beauty. In many cultures, abundance is associated with prosperity and health, and Botero creates a positive, powerful aesthetic through the exaggeration of body shapes. This is particularly evident in these two women.
The naked woman stands revealingly with high heels in front of the mirror and looks at herself without ‘hiding’.
And the ballerina – despite her fullness – stands gracefully on one leg, even on tiptoe, and lifts her other leg up easily and without any problems. I couldn’t do that 😉
The exhibition then continues on the first floor. Here we find drawings, depictions of his family, still lifes and… his interpretation of Piero della Francesca, Velázquez, Raphael and van Eyke. And that totally surprised me and was the best part of the exhibition for me! 🙂
Botero has been to the Palazzo Barberini in Rome (Raphael), the Uffizi in Florence (Piero della Francesca) and the National Gallery in London (Arnolfini Wedding) and of course studied the works in detail. What he has made of them is amusing, but also highly inspiring!
His versions of the Old Masters have the following background:
The ‘Arnolfini Wedding’ by van Eyck and also the ‘Diptych of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino: Battista Sforza and Federigo de Montefeltro’ by Piero della Francesca are about depicting power and wealth. With his botanical figures, he wants to draw attention to the affluence and privileges of the upper classes. With a critical eye on Renaissance and Baroque works, he also wants to reflect on today’s world.
And with ‘La Fornarina’ by Raphael and perhaps also with the ‘Infanta’ by Velázquez, he wants to challenge the common ideals of beauty. The exaggerated body in his depiction stands in contrast to the ‘ideal’ form that is often shown in the Western art tradition. Botero challenges the viewer to question established notions of beauty and physicality.
Conclusion
I think this exhibition is well worth a visit. It is colourful, surprising and well structured. The audio guide is also worthwhile.
Your Céline
Official website of the Palau Matorell: www.palaumartorell.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2025
With permission of the Palau Matorell.
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