Inspired by a travelling circus he encountered in a small Mexican town on the Pacific coast, Fernando Botero uses bright colours and unexpected movement to celebrate the poetry of the circus in Circus: Paintings and Works on Paper. This volume marks the first time the complete circus series has been published together as a collection and represents all of the esteemed artist’s work on one of his favourite subjects, one which has also inspired the likes of Renoir, Picasso, Seurat, Lautrec, Chagall, Leger, and Calder. Whether it’s the Ringling Brothers or Cirque du Soleil, the circus is a universal tradition that brings people together, and Botero celebrates this rich history with his distinctive voluminous forms that perfectly complement the exaggerated atmosphere of the circus. The 134 paintings and 57 drawings included here explore light, colour, style, and space and do so with a poignancy that highlights through the extravagant disproportion of Botero’s figures the exceptional beauty of the human body. This clever series playfully engages the viewer and invites them to participate in Botero’s circus. AUTHOR: Fernando Botero (b. 1932) is one of the most famous living artists of our time whose exaggerated figures are instantly recognizable. His work is internationally praised and has been spotlighted by the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Art in America, and BBC Newsnight as well as by the founding director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the head of Latin American Art at Sotheby’s New York, and the owner of the Gary Nader Gallery in Miami, among others. At the start of his career, the Colombian artist studied at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid before travelling to Paris and Florence to expand upon his understanding of fine art. In 1958, he gained widespread recognition for his first prize piece at the Salon de Artistas Colombianos. In the last three decades, he has achieved worldwide recognition for his many paintings, drawings, and sculpture, with more than 50 exhibitions around the globe. Botero continues to be an active member of the art community and works primarily in Paris. 124 paintings and 57 drawings
