Boterismo

Boterismo, also known as the Botero style, is the distinctive visual language associated with Colombian artist Fernando Botero (born 1932). It is defined by inflated, voluminous forms and simplified anatomy that give figures and objects a monumental, statuesque presence. Human and animal figures are typically rounded and exaggerated in size, with smooth, unbroken contours and a sense of gravity that remains intact despite the exaggeration. The surfaces are often brightly colored or carefully muted, with a preference for clear composition and a calm, static rhythm.

Subject matter ranges from everyday scenes of family and neighborhood life to classical, religious, and mythological motifs. Botero uses the exaggerated volumes to create humor, ambiguity, and social commentary. The style has been interpreted as a critique of power, vanity, violence, and social norms, while some observers view it as a formal exploration of volume, perspective, and representation.

Media and practice include oil on canvas, gouache, drawings, and a large corpus of sculpture in bronze and other materials. Botero’s sculptures are frequently monumental, intended for public spaces and museums alike, reinforcing the same sculptural logic as his paintings.

Boterismo emerged in the mid-20th century and gained international attention in the 1960s and beyond. It remains closely associated with Botero but has also inspired other artists to adopt similar exaggerated, volumetric figures within a Latin American artistic vocabulary.