Botero is the next Picasso!
Botero Part 2: Predicting the projection of Botero's art market, and a declaration of my love for this artist!
Hello Art People,
I am happy to welcome a few more people to the blog this time! Everyone tells me not to care about the subscriber numbers, but I have to say I’m happy to finally add people who I have come across throughout my years of art adventures! Please share with anyone who you think I may have missed! I am currently writing this from Dubai, and look forward to sharing my experiences about art and life with you.
Now for the much awaited Botero Part 2!
I am going to jump right in to it, especially in light of Christie’s auction of Elton John’s art and collectibles that happened last night, which reminded me that the Spring auction season is quickly approaching, and also because I’ve come across more Botero lovers these past few days (one collector, actually). Not long ago, I shared on instagram a video where Sofia Vergara revealed her home to Architectural Digest Magazine, and she told the world how she recently acquired her dream Botero piece, which you can read about here. I have just discovered that she is an avid Botero collector, and owns paintings and a sculpture by her fellow Colombian.
Fun Fact: 3-4 years ago, I found out her ex-husband, Joe Manganiello, is himself an avid fan-fiction art collector; he has crossed paths with a friend of mine, who is also a very active Calgary-based (Canada), fan-fiction-art-collecting lawyer, and is well known in that specific art niche/community across the globe. He is probably reading this now; don’t worry your identity remains fully protected!
For those of you who don’t know, this the Part 2 to an article where I previously discussed Picasso, which you should read by clicking HERE, and (spoiler alert!) I pretty much stated my hypothesis that Botero is well on track to become another version of Picasso…let’s say 20, 50 or 100 years down the road. So you can only imagine my recent excitement to meet a collector, to whom I will also send this article.
A quick catch-up: Fernando Botero is a Colombian-born artist, who is famous for depicting figured and subjects full and exaggerated volume , and also the “Y tho?” meme, which quickly became one of the most viewed and popular memes ever. He sadly passed away in September of 2023, at the age of 91, coincidentally on the same year as the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death.
With Botero, I admit, I am a little bias. I love Botero’s work due to my experience last year in Italy discovering his sculpture castes in Forte Di Marmi and in Lucca, where I saw his “Heaven” and “Hell” murals in the cutest Italian church. I was surprised when I found out that he was alive (at the time), because his work feels like something created in the 17th century (1800s). He is also an Aries….!
Personal preference for his work aside, I also see some key factors that I think make him prime to become one of the great masters in art, much like Picasso.
I state my case below:
He checks a lot of the necessary boxes, including getting kicked out of art school, having a signature style and an inflated ego (allegedly).
His work has been and continues to be collected globally by institutions like museums, corporations and governments, as well celebrities.
A lot of his art incorporates humour with political criticism, as well as famous historical figures, and controversial scenes, such as the scene of the death of Pablo Escobar, which included photographs that made a bold statement to the world when they were published by the media at the time.
Botero's Political Work - The Death of Pablo Escobar! He was not born into wealth (uncommon in the “art world”) and he started painting young. He sold his first works at age 15; he would sell his work to make money to buy tickets to see the matadors and the bullfights, which he loved ( like a proper aries…sorry I just can’t help it).
His work wasn’t immediately adopted by the market as “great art” but he still eventually managed to achieve fame and acceptance in the art world, and in popular culture via his memes, while he was alive (think Warhol, Picasso).
Pure Numbers:
Of the three lots ( “lot” = item in the auction ) in the November 2023 auction/sale at Christie’s, Botero is now achieving way beyond the asking price of his work, whereas we didn’t see this with his sales in September 2023, when Botero died. The auction market had to catch up to the shift of his death, and by November it had. In November of 2023, he achieved his highest sale price to date.
I can imagine this will be a trend that continues indefinitely.Now, I present to you my pride and joy, a second chart I made, which is helps demonstrate the numbers statement I made above:
Actually, Botero is also very much loved in Dubai; I just missed a very epic display of his work by Opera Gallery at their location in Atlantis the Palm, which ended in October of 2023. There is also a massive Horse sculpture somewhere in Downtown Dubai, which I look forward to seeing and sharing!
Coming up in March for tinyartprincess, is the launch of the London artist studio tours, as well as a recap of Art Dubai - the Dubai International Art Fair!
Thanks for tapping into my tiny art world. If you would like to discuss Botero or anything art-related —send me an email by replying to this story.
AND! If you love me, you will share this with someone who would enjoy it by clicking the button below.
xoxo
Amédée
He is huge in LATAM, I remember going to an exhibition of him when I was around 7yo and is pretty common to have squares with his horses. Also, is still possible to find some of his art pieces in the region at fairly cheap prices (just need to find the right boomers)