IMBA will present Botero in Singapore at Gardens by the Bay, a landmark, first-of-its-kind celebration of one of the world’s most beloved artists, Maestro Fernando Botero. Jointly presented with the Fernando Botero Foundation as part of IMBA’s official launch, the exhibition brings together close to 130 original works across three dynamic formats, the world’s first Botero immersive experience, a major gallery exhibition of paintings, drawings and indoor sculptures, and a spectacular presentation of monumental outdoor sculptures across IMBA Theatre and the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay.

Making its first and only stop in Southeast Asia, Botero in Singapore is the largest and most ambitious Botero presentation ever staged worldwide. Set against Singapore’s most iconic garden destination, the exhibition transforms the city into a living canvas — where art, nature and everyday life meet. Botero in Singapore is supported by Panasonic Projector & Displays, Eurokars, and Shangri-La Singapore.

Purpose-built for immersive experiences and gallery exhibitions, IMBA Theatre is designed as a cultural playground, a space where discovery unfolds across formats, generations and ways of seeing. Set within Gardens by the Bay, the venue offers a new platform for world-class presentations that feel open, relevant and deeply human, inviting visitors to wander, wonder and return.

Botero in Singapore anchors IMBA Theatre’s opening programme, setting the tone for the institution’s future direction. Presenting Maestro Botero’s work through immersive, gallery and public art experiences, the exhibition offers a fresh, multifaceted view of his artistic language and enduring influence, all while positioning Singapore as a gateway for major cultural moments in Southeast Asia.

Says Fernando Botero Zea, Co-President, The Fernando Botero Foundation: “Partnering with IMBA allows us to present Fernando Botero’s work at a scale and depth that truly reflects the power of his legacy. Singapore has long held a special place in his artistic journey, and this exhibition is both a continuation of that relationship and a new chapter—one that invites audiences to step fully into his universe. More than an exhibition, this experience is meant to leave visitors with a sense of joy, humanity, and reflection, capturing Botero’s belief that art should be accessible, emotionally resonant, and deeply human.”

At the heart of the presentation is A Life in Fullness, the world’s first immersive experience dedicated to Maestro Fernando Botero, created in close collaboration with the Fernando Botero Foundation. Narrated by Fernando Botero Zea, the artist’s eldest son, this 45-minute audiovisual journey offers an intimate, emotionally rich portrait of Botero, not only as a global art icon, but as a father, a rebel and a man shaped by love, loss and the fullness of life.

Blending animation, archival material and spatial storytelling, the experience brings Botero’s iconic forms to life while revealing the personal stories behind the monumental works. More than an animated biography, A Life in Fullness unfolds as a living canvas of memories, a deeply personal letter from son to father. Visitors journey from Botero’s Colombian roots to international acclaim, discovering the humour, resilience and humanity that define his art.

Complementing the immersive experience is Heart of Volume, a major gallery exhibition featuring 118 paintings, drawings and indoor sculptures spanning Maestro Botero’s seven-decade career. From intimate studies and watercolours to fully realised compositions, the exhibition traces the evolution of his unmistakable Boterismo style — defined by precise draughtsmanship, theatrical composition and exuberant colour.

The works reveal Botero’s lifelong dialogue with Classical and Renaissance traditions, alongside formative encounters with modern masters such as Picasso. Drawn directly from the Botero family collection, Heart of Volume marks the Singapore premiere of a diverse body of works previously shown in Rome, Baku and Guangzhou, offering audiences a rare and deeply rewarding encounter with the discipline, wit and generosity behind his mastery of form.

Stepping beyond the gallery walls, Garden Grandeur brings 10 monumental bronze sculptures into the open air, four at IMBA Theatre and six nestled within the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay. Long a champion of art in public spaces, Maestro Botero believed art should be part of everyday life, encountered freely and joyfully.

Set amid lush greenery, the sculptures amplify gesture, humour and presence, inviting visitors to stroll, photograph, linger and connect. Scaling Botero’s signature volumes to civic proportions, the works transform the Gardens into a living cultural commons, where art, nature and city life flow seamlessly together. The six sculptures at Silver Garden were unveiled on 23 January 2026 by Fernando Botero Zea, Co-President of the Fernando Botero Foundation; Michael Lee, CEO of IMBA; and Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay.

Says Felix Loh, CEO, Gardens by the Bay: “Gardens by the Bay has always pushed the boundaries of what a garden can be, and Botero in Singapore exemplifies that ambition. By bringing Maestro Botero’s works into our public landscape, we are not only enriching the cultural fabric of our city, but also reaffirming our commitment to making art accessible and inspiring for our visitors. It is therefore a profound honour for Gardens by the Bay and Singapore to present the works of one of the most recognised artists of the 20th century.”

Extending the celebration beyond Gardens by the Bay, five masterpieces by Maestro Botero will be on display at Shangri-La Singapore from 8 January to 1 March 2026. Guests can further immerse themselves in Botero’s world through a Botero-Inspired Afternoon Tea at The Rose Veranda, where Shangri-La Singapore’s culinary artisans translate his bold, exuberant spirit into a refined spread of sweet and savoury delights.

Expanding Botero’s legacy beyond canvas and sculpture, Botero partners with BMW Eurokars Auto in celebration of the Year of the Horse to present A Precious Steed. In a world-first collaboration, Maestro Botero’s iconic visual language is reimagined on two BMW models — the BMW 735i and BMW iX40 — transforming precision-engineered vehicles into moving works of art. The showcase runs from 23 January to 22 February 2026 at the BMW Eurokars Experience Centre, where art, design and dynamism converge.

Says Michael Lee, CEO, IMBA: “Botero in Singapore marks a defining moment for IMBA and for how we envision cultural experiences in Singapore. By presenting Fernando Botero’s legacy through multiple formats — public, gallery and immersive — we hope to open new ways for audiences of all generations to connect with art, ideas and stories that endure. IMBA Theatre opening at Gardens by the Bay, where nature and imagination already inspire discovery, reflects our ethos Where Curiosity Grows, and our belief that culture flourishes most when it is open, shared and accessible to all.”

Photo Credit: IMBA

The immersive experience Botero: A Life In Fullness opens 6th March 2026 at the IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay. Early Bird Tickets on sale from 30 January 2026.

The exhibition Heart of Volume opens 13th February 2026 at the IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay.
Early Bird Tickets on sale from 30 January 2026.

Garden Grandeur is open for public viewing from 24th January 2026 at Gardens by the Bay and IMBA Theatre.

For more information, please visit https://imbaglobal.com/whats-on and follow IMBA’s journey on Instagram (@be.imba).

Five masterpieces by Maestro Botero will be on display at Shangri-La Singapore from 8th January to 1st March 2026, accompanied by a Botero-inspired Afternoon Tea at The Rose Veranda. For more details, please refer to Shangri-La Singapore’s website.

Botero in Singapore forms the centrepiece of IMBA’s official launch in Q1 2026, alongside the Southeast Asia premiere of David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not Smaller and Further Away), an immersive experience presented in partnership with Lightroom UK.