Introduction by Curtis Bill Pepper.
Inspired by a traveling circus he encountered in a small Mexican town on the Pacific coast, Fernando Botero uses bright colors and unexpected movement to celebrate the poetry of the circus in Circus: Paintings and Works on Paper. This latest title marks the first time the complete circus series has ever been published together as a collection and represents all of the esteemed artist’s work on one of his favorite subjects, one which has also inspired the likes of Renoir, Picasso, Seurat, Lautrec, Chagall, Léger, 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 shapely forms that perfectly complement the exaggerated atmosphere of the circus. The 134 paintings and fifty-seven drawings included here explore light, color, style, and space and do so with a poignancy that highlights—through the extravagant volume of Botero's figures—the exceptional beauty of the human body. This clever series playfully engages the viewer and invites each one to participate in Botero's circus.
About the Authors:
Fernando Botero (b. 1932) is the most famous living artist of our time, his voluminous figures instantly distinguishable in the thousands of locations in which they reside around the world. The Colombian artist studied at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid before traveling to Paris and Florence to expand upon his understanding of fine art. In 1958 he gained widespread exposure after winning "First Prize Piece" at the Salón de Artistas Colombianos. In the last three decades, he has achieved international recognition for his many paintings, drawings, and sculptures, with hundreds of exhibitions around the world. His most recent book, Circus, was published by Glitterati in 2013. Botero continues to be an active member of the art community, living and working primarily in Paris, Monaco, Colombia, and Pietrasanta, Italy, near the quarry where his sculptures are constructed. His work is in the public collections of The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others.
Curtis Bill Pepper (1917–2014) was an American author and journalist. He served as Newsweek's Mediterranean bureau chief in Rome, covered the Vatican for United Press International, worked for The New York Times, and reported briefly for CBS. Pepper is the author of several books, the latest of which, Leonardo, is a biographical novel of Leonardo da Vinci. Until his recent death, Pepper divided his time between homes in Umbria, Italy, and New York City with his wife, the sculptor Beverly Pepper. His work in this book is his last literary effort.
ISBN: 978-0-9881745-1-1 | 252 pages \ 9 x 12" \ cloth hardcover w/acetate jacket \
180 4/c photos