Gato by Botero

This Cheshire-like fat cat that sits in front of  the 900 Park Avenue Building.  Known mostly for his plump sculptures and paintings of women, Fernando Botero’s bronze cat replaced an original Henry Moore sculpture in front of the driveway. The building is considered one of the ugliest on Park Avenue.

 900 Park can also be seen in the opening credits of Diff’rent Strokes, when Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges get out of the limo in the driveway of the building.

May Gary rest in peace….

Who: Fernando Botero

What: El Gato Sculpture

Where: 900 Park Avenue

Botero’s Adam and Eve

Fernando Botero is known for his luscious curvaceous figures in sculpture and painting, some just refer to it as “fat.” Trained as a matador and set designer, Botero has declared himself the “most Colombian of Colombian artists,” and has flourished since he moved to Spain in the 1950s.

His large and in charge bronzes are scattered in public spots around the globe (a large collection is on Museum Island in Berlin), and here in New York, tow of them greet shoppers at each escalator at the mall like Time Warner Center. Named Adam and Eve, they tower over visitors at twelve feet tall. Eve may be a little jealous, as attention seems to focus on Adam- and his penis.  And the desire to, touch it…The public’s fondling of his nether region is not only a prime photo op, but has also left the patina shiny and gold. How’s that for gold member.

Probably the only time anyone will say that Botero’s sculptures are groin-grabbingly good.

Who: Fernando Botero

What: Adam & Eve sculptures

Where: Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle