Botero's first exhibition in Arizona

They present the work of Fernando Botero

The cultural icon of Colombia, at the Desert Botanical Garden, from October 7

The Desert Botanical Garden presents Fernando Botero's iconic work in Fernando Botero: The Master, marking the award-winning artist's first major exhibition in Arizona.

The featured exhibition includes important works from the Colombian artist's career and will open on October 7, 2023 and run until March 31, 2024; tickets are now on sale at dbg.org.

“Fernando Botero: The Master” displays voluminous sculptures playfully intertwined with the Garden's large-scale living collection of magnificent saguaros, towering cardons, and the beautiful Papago Hills; The exhibition is complemented by a colorful interior gallery in DorranceHall, highlighting Botero's paintings, drawings and small tableaus. sculpture.

“The Garden is thrilled to bring Botero's first major exhibition to Arizona. The Garden’s art exhibits have become a vibrant and compelling source of pride in the Valley’s cultural scene since 2009,” says Ken Schutz, Garden Executive Director.

“In 2021-2022, Dale Chihuly's work attracted more than 601,000 visitors to the Garden and generated an economic impact of more than $23 million. With several successful ‘blockbuster exhibitions’ under our belt, the Garden is pleased to host the artwork of one of the world’s greatest artists,” he adds.

The exhibition is a collaboration with the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach, California, which is dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art.

“We are excited to work with Desert Botanical Garden to provide a unique and immersive experience that celebrates Botero's indelible contributions to the realm of Latin American art, and we could not be more delighted to display his artwork surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the desert landscape.” says Lourdes I. Ramos-Rivas, Ph.D., president and CEO of MOLAA.

Fernando Botero, a renowned Colombian figurative artist and sculptor, established himself as one of the most recognized artists worldwide of our time.

With his distinctive style and mastery of form, Botero's influence extends far beyond Latin America and he is the most museum-exhibited artist of our time. His works enrich prominent locations around the world, including the illustrious Park Avenue in New York City and the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Botero's spectacular works of art can be found in more than 200 museums around the world, and exhibitions of his work have been mounted in the gardens of the New York Botanical Garden, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.

The Desert Botanical Garden is also an Arizona icon and for 84 years, it has become a compelling attraction and pioneer in desert conservation, offering worldly plants, vibrant trails, world-class exhibits, festive events and much more.