Fernando Botero Quotes

Colombia, Painter
April 19, 1932

Fernando Botero Angulo (born 19 April 1932) is a Colombian figurative artist and sculptor. Born in Medellín, his signature style, also known as "Boterismo", depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated volume, which can represent political criticism or humor, depending on the piece. He is considered the most recognized and quoted living artist from Latin America, and his art can be found in highly visible places around the world, such as Park Avenue in New York City and the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Also known as Sculptor, Artist

I believe that it's better to have a conviction, believe strongly in something, and then the convictions create a style that reflects your mentality.

Fernando Botero
- Believe
- Style
- Better
I love my country, and it hurts not to be able to see my country, as I did for so many years. I hope that I will one day be able to live in a peaceful Colombia.

Fernando Botero
- Live
- Country
- Love

People say, 'What a discipline, painting so much.' I say, 'No, I love it.' Nothing amuses me as much as my work. To have discipline would be not to paint.

Fernando Botero
- People
- Work
- Painting
I had an uncle who took me to the ring in Medellin when I was 15 years old. In school, we had someone who taught us how to bullfight.

Fernando Botero
- School
- Me
- Uncle
Art is important because when people start to forget, art reminds them what happened. Like 'Guernica.' People would not remember the tragedy of Guernica today if it were not for that painting.

Fernando Botero
- People
- Important
- Art
Bullfights are a very cultural thing. I know many people think it's cruel, but so many things are cruel. Hunting, the electric chair, wars. These are all cruel things as well.

Fernando Botero
- People
- Think
- Hunting
Expression without culture is flat. Many artists come out of art school and start doing things that don't last. They are audacious because of ignorance. They are irresponsible.

Fernando Botero
- School
- Art
- Culture
I often think about death, and it saddens me to leave this world and not be able to paint more. I love it so much.

Fernando Botero
- World
- Death
- Leave

Nobody ever told me, 'Art is this.' This was good luck in a way because I would have had to spend half of my life forgetting everything that I had been told, which is what happens with most students in schools of fine arts.

Fernando Botero
- Life
- Good
- Art
My popularity has to do with the divorce between modern art, where everything is obscure, and the viewer who often feels he needs a professor to tell them whether it's good or not. I believe a painting has to talk directly to the viewer, with composition, color and design, without a professor to explain it.

Fernando Botero
- Good
- Believe
- Art
The circus is a global theme. It exists in all parts of the world - maybe not in Africa, but it exists in Asia in all parts. In Latin America, it's difficult to find a person who hasn't gone to the circus.

Fernando Botero
- World
- America
- Find