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. The Musicians and the 4 musicians (5.1M USD)
The previous owner had acquired this work on May 23, 2006 for the sum of 2 million 32 thousand dollars, and yesterday, almost two decades later, the same piece was sold for the impressive sum of 5 million 132 thousand dollars.
2. Monumental horse (4,9M USD)
Fernando Botero’s Monumental Horse (1992) is an outstanding work in the tradition of monumental sculpture and the equine motif. With exaggerated geometric proportions and hypnotic volume, this piece reflects Botero’s unique style in sculpture. It was featured in one of Botero’s most incredible exhibitions: Botero aux Champs-Elysées: sculptures monumentales in Paris in 1992. This iconic sculpture was auctioned for an extraordinary $4.9 million, setting a new record for his sculptures.
3. 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.
4. Dancers (3.92M)
On March 12, 2024, an artwork by Fernando Botero was the top sale at Christie’s Latin American art auction in New York.
Fernando Botero’s sculpture “Dancers” (2000) was the star of the auction when it sold for $3.92 million, 150% above its $1.5 million estimate.
5. The Playroom (3,68M USD)
Christie’s auction house, on 20 November 2024, auctioned a painting by the Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, which sold for a total of $3′680,000 at the 20th century sales gala.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Leda and the swan (2,44M USD)
Last November 17, at an auction at Sotheby’s, Botero’s sculpture “Leda and the Swan” was auctioned for the first time, achieving a place in the top 10 of the most expensive works by Fernando Botero.
In this bronze sculpture, Botero recreates the scene from Greek mythology in which Leda and Zeus, in the form of a swan, unite to have four children, among whom was Helen of Troy.
9. 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.
