I'm the most Colombian of the Colombians, even though I've lived 47 years outside of Colombia. I've lived 13 years in New York, and I never did a painting about New York. I've lived in France more than 30 years, and I've never painted Paris. Fernando Botero colombiacolombianfrance share on social
Art is always an exaggeration in some sense; in color, in form, even in theme, etc... but it has always been this way. It is the same with the nature of some works by Giotto or Massacio, or the color of life as expressed by Van Gogh. Fernando Botero artcolorexaggeration share on social
In the '60s, I did many satirical portraits of dictators. Fernando Botero 60sdictatorportrait Change image and share on social
An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it. Fernando Botero adoptartistattempt Change image and share on social
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 bullfightchaircruel Change image and share on social
All my life, my girlfriends are always skinny. Beauty in art has nothing to do with beauty in reality. Why do you like primitive art? Because there is beauty in the deformity. Sometimes paintings that people consider realistic are not at all. Raphael figures look realistic, but in real life, they were deformed. Fernando Botero artbeautydeform share on social
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 deathleavelove Change image and share on social
All the animals I've painted always have a relationship with man. I have been told that part of the knowledge of the human anatomy comes from animals. Fernando Botero anatomyanimalhave Change image and share on social
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 convictioncreatementality Change image and share on social
In a photo, you just do a click, but in art you have to put in so much energy. This concentration of energy and attention says something that other media cannot say. Fernando Botero artattentionclick Change image and share on social