Without a doubt, Fernando Botero is one of the most sought-after artists in the art market today; in 2022, he himself broke his own sales record as the highest-valued living Latin American artist. These have been his best-selling works:
1. Man on horseback (4.3M USD)
On March 11 at a Christie’s auction, Fernando Botero broke his own record as the highest-grossing living Latin American artist by selling his sculpture “Man on Horseback” for a total of $4.3 million. This piece was valued between 2 and 3 million dollars, but after ten minutes of auctioning it was left with a total value of more than 4 million.
2. Adam and Eve (2.9M USD)
In 2018 the British house Bonhams auctioned the work who belonged to the collection of Saudi millionaire Walid Juffali. It is a more modern version of Botero’s 1999 sculpture, which is worth around 2.6M USD. This version is from 2003 and for 4 years was the most expensive work of art sold by a living Latin American artist (surpassed by another sculpture also by Fernando Botero).
The sculptures were located in a park in Surrey, England. At the same place where the auction was held.
3. The Musicians and the 4 musicians (2.1M USD)
In May 2006, his paintings ‘The Musicians’ (1979) and ‘The Four Musicians’ (1984) were auctioned for 2.1M USD at a Christie’s auction, making these paintings his most expensive canvases.
The painting ‘The Musicians’ had not circulated among collectors for a little over 20 years, this is one of the reasons why the piece ended up being sold at this value.
4. Vase (2,7M USD)
On March 1, 2024, the auction “My friend Fernando Botero” was held in which it was auctioned for a total of 2,722,000 USD this 226×91 cm canvas that portrays roses, dahlias, primroses, sunflowers, and other flowers, in the best style of Fernando Botero.
This auction consisted of works by Maestro Fernando Botero from the private collection of Salomón and Rosita Lerner.
5. Playing cards (2,2M USD)
This 1988 canvas was auctioned in 2024 for a total value of USD 2,298,500, surpassing estimates of around one and a half million dollars.
This canvas is very theatrical and teaches us Botero in his best style: Volume, references to important works in the history of art, game of perspectives, surrealism and female nudity.
