Sculpture Botero - XXL Woman - Fernando Botero

Modern Bronze Sculpture – XXL Woman – Signed Fernando Botero

The XXL Woman is a striking example of Fernando Botero Sculptures, where the artist’s fascination with volume and fullness is taken to its most monumental expression. The reclining female nude, stretched gracefully across her base, radiates a presence that is both intimate and powerful. Unlike traditional nudes in art history, which often idealize slimness, this Sculpture Botero celebrates weight, sensuality, and unapologetic grandeur. The surface of the bronze gleams with soft light, enhancing the tactile quality of the figure’s abundant curves. With this creation, Fernando Botero Artwork elevates the human body into a timeless symbol of vitality and permanence.

Fernando Botero’s Early Life

Born on April 19, 1932, in Medellín, Colombia, Fernando Botero grew up in a modest family marked by the early death of his father, David Botero. His mother, Flora Angulo, worked tirelessly as a seamstress to provide for her children, and her resilience deeply shaped the artist’s outlook on life. From a young age, Botero showed immense curiosity about art, encouraged by an uncle who enrolled him in a matador school before recognizing his true vocation as an artist. By the age of sixteen, he was already publishing drawings in local newspapers, beginning a journey that would take him from Medellín to Bogotá, Madrid, and Florence. These formative years laid the groundwork for the sculptural language that later defined Fernando Botero Sculptures.

Education and Artistic Development

Botero’s studies at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid gave him a deep appreciation for European masters such as Velázquez and Goya. Later, his time in Florence exposed him to the Renaissance, where the monumental forms of Giotto and Masaccio profoundly influenced his approach to volume. This synthesis of Latin American culture and European classical tradition became the foundation of Fernando Botero Artwork. His decision to embrace exaggerated proportions was not caricature, but rather a deliberate philosophy to give his figures monumental dignity. This stylistic choice would ultimately shape the unmistakable presence of every Sculpture Botero, including the monumental XXL Woman.

Reimagining the Female Nude

The female nude has been a central theme in Western art, from Titian to Ingres and beyond, yet Botero’s treatment is entirely his own. In the XXL Woman, the reclining figure is not an object of fragile delicacy but instead an embodiment of confidence and serenity. The weight of her form fills the space with authority, transforming her into a powerful muse. The sensuality of the sculpture is heightened by the artist’s signature smooth surfaces and bold, rounded shapes. This bold reinterpretation places Fernando Botero Sculptures in direct dialogue with centuries of tradition, while simultaneously breaking away to form a unique visual language.

The Timeless Material of Bronze

Executed in bronze, the XXL Woman achieves permanence and gravity, echoing the traditions of classical sculpture while asserting its modern character. The polished finish enhances the volume of the figure, allowing light and shadow to accentuate every contour. Resting on a marble base, the sculpture gains even more solidity, grounding the reclining woman while emphasizing her monumental presence. The tactile appeal of the bronze invites both visual admiration and an almost physical sense of connection. This masterful use of material exemplifies why Fernando Botero Artwork holds such a unique place in the world of modern sculpture.

Exhibitions and Public Collections

The theme of reclining women recurs in many of Fernando Botero Sculptures, with large-scale versions exhibited in public plazas across Medellín, Bogotá, Madrid, and Florence. The Museo Botero in Bogotá houses some of his most celebrated nudes, while international museums such as the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, the Musée Maillol in Paris, and outdoor exhibitions in New York and Venice have brought his monumental bronzes to global audiences. Collectors and institutions alike seek these works, recognizing them as both Sculpture Botero masterpieces and cultural icons. The XXL Woman stands as part of this legacy, ensuring that the artist’s vision continues to shape the understanding of beauty in contemporary art.

A Legacy of Humanity and Monumentality

Throughout his long career, Fernando Botero rejected the notion that his figures were humorous exaggerations. Instead, he emphasized that their monumental size was a way of granting them dignity, vitality, and a universal human quality. The XXL Woman captures this philosophy perfectly, offering a vision of the female body that transcends societal ideals and affirms abundance as a form of beauty. In doing so, this Sculpture Botero exemplifies the artist’s lifelong commitment to creating works that are at once playful, profound, and timeless. Even after his passing in Monaco in 2023, the resonance of Fernando Botero Sculptures continues to grow, securing his place as one of the most influential and beloved artists of the modern era.

Width:  43 cm
Height: 12,5 cm
Depth: 19 cm
Weight: 10,3 kg
100% Bronze