Botero returns to his origins: the world premiere of Vía Crucis in Medellin

This past September 21 was a very special date for ARTIKA: the Vía Crucis series, Fernando Botero’s masterpiece, is now an exclusive edition of an art book.

The world premiere of Vía Crucis was celebrated at the Antioquia Museum in Medellín (Colombia). The work, produced in collaboration with the artist, is Botero’s greatest homage to his homeland. Thus, the importance of this occasion: it represents a complete journey that connects the artist’s personal memories with the great names in the history of art.

The event was attended by ARTIKA’s CEO, Juan Ribalta, the Global Director, Marc Buil, and the editorial director, Macarena de Eguilior. Several leading figures from the Antioquia Museum also participated in the event, including its director, María del Rosario Escobar.

The celebration kicked off with a press conference and included a guided tour through the museum’s collections. The guests were shown the spectacular design of Vía Crucis, as well as a video featuring Botero himself, who explains the features of this work that means so much to him/so meaningful for him.

In 2012, Fernando Botero donated the Vía Crucis series, one of the most important works of his career, to the Antioquia Museum. Ten years later, this masterpiece has become a limited-edition of 2998 copies, 200 of which are signed by the artist.

Vía Crucis offers a look at all the aspects of Botero’s style through a complete overview of his career and influences. It includes the 61 works in the series (34 drawings and 27 oil paintings), which provide the artist’s personal interpretation of the Christian Stations of the Cross.