ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Fernando Botero Exhibition at Complesso del Vittoriano in Rome

exhibition · 2026-05-05

The Complesso del Vittoriano in Rome hosts a major exhibition of Fernando Botero's works through August. Featuring about fifty pieces from around the world, the show includes the bronze sculpture 'Cavallo con briglie' outside the museum. The exhibition explores Botero's distinctive volumetric style, rooted in his Medellín background and influenced by masters like Cézanne, Zurbarán, and Raphael. Sections cover themes of tradition, nudity, and Colombian identity. The artist describes his work as 'a rhythm of colored volumes.' Critic Rosalind Krauss once dismissed his figures as 'simplistic caricatures,' but the exhibition asserts his place in the art canon.

Key facts

  • Exhibition runs until August at Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome.
  • Approximately fifty works are displayed from international collections.
  • Bronze sculpture 'Cavallo con briglie' is installed outside the museum.
  • Botero was born in Medellín, Colombia in 1932.
  • His style is characterized by exaggerated volumes and vibrant colors.
  • Influences include Cézanne, Zurbarán, and Raphael.
  • The show includes a section on nudes, described as offering 'spiritual respite.'
  • Critic Rosalind Krauss described his work as 'simplistic caricatures.'

Entities

Artists

  • Fernando Botero
  • Rosalind Krauss
  • Cézanne
  • Zurbarán
  • Raphael

Institutions

  • Complesso del Vittoriano
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Medellín
  • Colombia

Sources