UCHI BOTERO

AS ARTIST FERNANDO BOTERO TURNS 90, WE MEET HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. AT HOME IN THE PICTURE-PERFECT MIAMI MANSION SHE SHARES WITH HUSBAND JUAN CARLOS

- NANA BOTTAZZI

To step into Juan Carlos and Uchi Botero’s home is to enter the extraordinary world of one of our most famous living artists, Fernando Botero. The Miami-based couple are his son and daughter-in-law, and their beachside villa, set among lush gardens and flooded with light, is the perfect setting for his flamboyantly colourful work.

“I like to look around me and enjoy the memories that each item evokes,” says Uchi, who both adores and admires her father-in-law.

Fernando, who turns 90 in April, is the loving patriarch of a large and close-knit Colombian clan and Juan Carlos and Uchi are proud to be among those who gathered to celebrate his birthday.

Juan Carlos is an acclaimed writer, while Uchi, his wife of 24 years, is a journalist and lawyer. They have two daughters, Natalia, 19, and Tatiana, 17, who joined their mother for this shoot as she revealed what she’s learnt from Fernando and his wife, sculptor Sophia Vari, about creativity in art and life.

Uchi, tell us something about yourself…

I was born and grew up in the city of Barranquilla in Colombia. I’m a lawyer and radio, TV and print journalist, but I stopped working to devote myself to bringing up my children. Now that they’re older, I’ve started acting as ambassador for a couple of brands – Tata Harper Skin Care and Sazingg Jewelry.”

How did you meet your husband?

I’ve known Juan Carlos since I was 14 — in fact, we became in-laws twice over before we got married ourselves! I think destiny had him lined up for me.