The other day I was lucky enough to get to explore the very interesting Museo de Botero. The Botero Museum is housed in a colonial mansion in the historic La Candelaria district of Bogota. The mix of the colonial architecture along with the modern art is enchanting. The house is two floors with a courtyard in the middle surrounded by plants and a fountain that lead you to feel transported in time. Even though it is a small museum, the Botero Museum is a gem!
I had seen some works of Botero (there’s actually a statue of his in Barcelona), however I did not know too much about the artist. After a visit to this museum it is safe to say that he is now one of my favorite artists. His work is so different, so unique and I find it to be incredibly humorous.
Botero is considered to be one of the most recognized and quoted living artist from Latin America, and his corpulent art can be found in highly visible places around the world, from Park Avenue to the Champs-Élysées. This museum is also home to some pieces by a few other famous artists including: Picasso, Dali, Matisse, Calder, Kandinsky and many others.
The remarkable thing is the fact that Botero is still working at age 83. In fact, many of these paintings and sculptures were dated 1999 and later.
The museum opened doors in 2000 when the artist donated 200+ works of art- 123 of his own and 85 of international artists. There is no entrance fee. Whether you are familiar with Botero’s work or not, this museum is so entertaining and interesting that it is simply a must-see when in Bogotá. See the photos below if you need more reasons to go (which you shouldn’t!!)
