A Botero Pope

A Botero Pope, a Serendipitous Surprise at a Major US Art Fair After the Election of Leo XIV
New York (EFE) – A painting by Colombian artist Fernando Botero depicting a pope became the surprise of the TEFAF art fair in New York this Thursday, one of the largest in the United States, as its opening coincided with the white smoke rising in the Vatican and the election of a new pontiff.

The work "The Nuncio," an oil on canvas about two meters high, painted by Botero in 1987, attracted attention on the first day of TEFAF, exhibited at the León Tovar gallery booth. Tovar expressed his excitement to the Hispanic media present and stated that his selection for the fair was a coincidence.

Tovar, owner of the New York gallery in his name, specializing in Latin American art, explained that the philosophy of this year's booth was inspired by the film "Conclave" and the "unification of races," and that he proposed the works to be displayed for sale to collectors some time ago.
León Tovar's gallery, where a Botero pope shines
For the businessman, this Botero painting, part of a selection of pieces featuring other well-known artists such as Diego Rivera and Wilfredo Lam, fit with the "Latin American legacy" the gallery focuses on and, specifically, represented "the importance of what Francis was for the Church."

"Unfortunately, the pope died in the process, and today, by chance, they elected an American pope, which surprised everyone. And this pope is here, and the (new) pope's name is León. We're very excited, because my name is León too," he added. The painting, he said, starts at a price below $3 million and is an example of the rise in the Colombian artist's value following his death in 2023. His body of work, while not as extensive as that of others, "is highly collectible," and in some cases has increased in price.

The TEFAF fair in New York, a US satellite of the large fair originally from Maastricht (Netherlands), will be held until May 8 at the historic Park Avenue Armory, with an eclectic offering of modern and contemporary art, jewelry, antiques, and design brought by 91 galleries from 13 countries.
Source