Botero’s 80th birthday is celebrating in Tuscany

FLORENCE, ITALY – Colombian artist Fernando Botero is celebrating his 80th birthday in the renowned sculpture centre of Pietrasanta in Tuscany, Italy, with a new exhibition of statues, including huge cats, horses and large women.

Six of his giant sculptures tower over visitors in the cathedral square in the dusty town, which has been home to master artisans down the centuries.

The exhibition of 80 works looks back over Botero’s career and pays homage to his mix of Columbian and European styles in paintings and sculptures always united by their proportionally exaggerated figures — the master’s trademark.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday until September 2, has galvanised the 30,000 or so inhabitants of the small town, who have become fond of the Colombian artist, who is often spotted eating in the local trattorias.