> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fernando-botero · updated 2026-11-02

# Fernando Botero (1932–2023)

## What is Fernando Botero’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 950 auction results for Fernando Botero at 82 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $197,100 including buyer’s premium (middle half $35,802–$442,335, n=142). The auction record is $5,132,000 for The Musicians (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Musicians, 1979 | Oil paint | $5,132,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 2 | Horse, 1992 | Bronze | $4,920,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 3 | Woman in a Green Dress, 1992 | Oil paint | $4,800,000 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 4 | Man on a Horse, 1999 | Bronze | $4,320,000 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 5 | Dancers, 2000 | Bronze | $3,922,000 | Christie's | Mar 2024 |
| 6 | The Playroom, 1970 | Oil paint | $3,680,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | Woman on a horse, 2007 | Bronze | $3,600,000 | Christie's | Sep 2019 |
| 8 | Reclining Nude, 1976 | Bronze | $3,120,000 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 9 | Florero, 1974 | Oil paint | $2,722,000 | Sotheby's | Mar 2024 |
| 10 | Tightrope Walker, 2007 | Oil paint | $2,520,000 | Christie's | Sep 2018 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 250 | $418,453 |
| Sculpture | 207 | $410,500 |
| Works on paper | 170 | $50,072 |
| Other | 77 | $35,392 |
| Prints | 97 | $3,849 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 197 | $584,200 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 261 | $319,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 291 | $38,897 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 950 results from 82 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Fernando Botero is a Colombian artist with 1,163 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $175,700. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Fernando Botero sold in 2026 for $267,978, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**25 Fernando Botero works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Fernando Botero on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fernando-botero?ref=kg:fernando-botero) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Fernando Botero work worth?

Across 943 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fernando Botero work is $175,700.

The median Fernando Botero work on paper sells for $47,500 across 239 lots.

The median Fernando Botero painting sells for $431,800 across 254 lots.

The median Fernando Botero sculpture sells for $376,000 across 220 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Fernando Botero work on papers typically sell for $23,940–$54,870 (the middle half of 157 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Fernando Botero paintings typically sell for $403,200–$910,200 (the middle half of 133 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 146 | $2,905†‡ | $32,500 | 88.4% | 2026-10-14 |
| Paintings | 267 | $431,800†‡ | $5.1M | 95.1% | 2026-10-16 |
| Works on Paper | 274 | $47,500†‡ | $1.1M | 87.2% | 2026-10-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 248 | $376,000†‡ | $4.9M | 88.7% | 2026-10-16 |
| Photography | 2 | $1,864† | $3,196 | — | 2026-05-06 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 512 | $406,400†‡ | $5.1M | — | 2026-10-16 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Fernando Botero's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (146 lots) median $2,905 with 88.4% sell-through. Paintings (267 lots) median $431,800, record $5,132,000. A typical Fernando Botero painting sells for around 149× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 512 lots) the median is $406,400.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 71 | $2,167–$5,517†‡ | $3,840†‡ | $32,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 52 | $1,013–$3,887†‡ | $2,160†‡ | $7,591 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $62,500–$231,250‡ | $162,500‡ | $345,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 82 | $191,625–$495,125†‡ | $352,800†‡ | $2.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 133 | $403,200–$910,200‡ | $667,500‡ | $5.1M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 157 | $23,940–$54,870†‡ | $38,700†‡ | $230,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 47 | $30,847–$151,720†‡ | $56,700†‡ | $371,700 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 25 | $175,000–$353,609‡ | $274,000‡ | $698,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $36,178–$310,549†‡ | $200,000†‡ | $1.8M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 108 | $319,375–$529,200‡ | $413,150‡ | $3.6M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 41 | $413,000–$1M‡ | $674,500‡ | $4.3M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $5.1M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $4.9M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $4.8M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $4.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $1.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $698,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $32,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $10,625 |

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Fernando Botero worth?

Across 943 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fernando Botero work is $175,700. The median Fernando Botero work on paper sells for $47,500 across 239 lots. The median Fernando Botero painting sells for $431,800 across 254 lots. The median Fernando Botero sculpture sells for $376,000 across 220 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Fernando Botero work on papers typically sell for $23,940–$54,870 (the middle half of 157 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Fernando Botero paintings typically sell for $403,200–$910,200 (the middle half of 133 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Fernando Botero work on paper?

Based on 239 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fernando Botero work on paper is $47,500. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Fernando Botero's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fernando Botero work on paper is $1,128,000.

### What is the average price of a Fernando Botero painting?

Based on 254 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fernando Botero painting is $431,800. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Fernando Botero's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fernando Botero painting is $5,132,000.

### What is the average price of a Fernando Botero sculpture?

Based on 220 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fernando Botero sculpture is $376,000. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Fernando Botero's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fernando Botero sculpture is $4,920,000.

### What is the average price of a small Fernando Botero work on paper?

Based on 157 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Fernando Botero work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $38,700, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a large Fernando Botero painting?

Based on 133 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Fernando Botero painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $667,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Fernando Botero's auction record?

Fernando Botero's auction record is $5,132,000, set in 2023.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Fernando Botero auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fernando-botero (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.