Fernando Botero exhibition launches in Sicily's Agrigento and Palermo

A dual exhibition of Colombian artist Fernando Botero's work opened in Sicily on 23‑24 July 2024. The show in Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, titled “Fernando Botero. L’incanto del Mito,” presents the artist's monumental figures amid the ancient archaeological landscape, while the Palermo venue at Palazzo Riso, called “Fernando Botero. Il peso dei sogni,” offers a more intimate display of paintings, watercolors, drawings and sculptures.

The program features 37 works from the Fernando Botero Zea Collection, including paintings, sketches and sculptures that explore themes of myth, the human figure and dream‑like weight. The exhibitions are organized by Sicily's Department of Cultural Heritage and Identity, the Valley of the Temples archaeological park, and the Regional Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, with production by Renaissance Exhibitions. Participants include Botero’s son Fernando Botero Zea, his nephew Fernando Botero Quintana, and Colombian ambassador to Italy Ligia Margarita Quessep Bitar.