At a glance
An exploration of volume and monumentality through six decades of painting, sculpture, and drawing by the late Colombian master of figurative art.
Meet the artist
Why go
This is the first solo exhibition of Botero’s work in London since 2015, offering a comprehensive posthumous look at how he transformed everyday Colombian life into a universal language of expanded form.
You'll see
Bronze sculptures · 60 years of oil paintings · Detailed charcoal drawings · Still lifes with exaggerated proportions · Portraits of Old Masters
Pace of visit
The gallery layout, designed by scenographer Cécile Degos, creates a rhythmic flow through Botero's recurring themes of music and daily ritual.
Don't miss
Prelados bañándose en un río (1968), a pivotal work that illustrates Botero’s satirical and voluminous approach to religious figures.
Artlovers Tip
Look closely at the bronze sculptures to appreciate the tactile quality of the surfaces, which Botero intended to enhance the sensuality of their amplified forms.
Inside the exhibition
Fernando Botero: in Praise of an Amplified World at Opera Gallery London brings the work of the late Colombian master back to New Bond Street, UK. The exhibition focuses on "Boterismo," an aesthetic dedicated not to weight or size, but to the monumental presence of volume. Visitors encounter a visual language that transforms every subject, from human figures to simple fruit, into expansive, rhythmic forms.
The selection spans nearly sixty years of artistic production, from the mid-1960s to the artist’s final creations in 2023. It features iconic oil paintings alongside bronze sculptures and delicate drawings on paper. Key themes included in the show trace the rituals of everyday life, Latin American musicians, and a recurring fascination with the clergy, presented through a scenography conceived by designer Cécile Degos.
What distinguishes this survey is its focus on Botero’s technical origins and his dialogue with art history. The exhibition highlights the 1957 mandolin sketch that first unlocked his "amplified" style and traces his early years as a copyist at the Prado in Madrid. By placing these diverse works together, the gallery provides a definitive look at how Botero’s singular vision evolved into a global emblem of contemporary figurative art.
Worth travelling for?
A sophisticated and accessible review of the Colombian master’s career, ideal for visitors seeking a tangible sense of volume and form in central London.
Experience as an Artlover
Admission is free and does not require a ticket. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6:30pm and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm.
Fernando Botero: in Praise of an Amplified World
Artlovers relevance
Plan your visit
Opera Gallery London
London, United Kingdom
