Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt

Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt (October 23, 1919 in Fredonia, Antioquia - May 14, 1995) was a Colombian sculptor. At the time of his death in 1995 he was recognized as one of the most important sculptors in Colombia and Latin America. Most of the main cities in Colombia have statues sculpted by Arenas.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Arenas and the second or maternal family name is Betancourt.

Arenas died on May 14, 1995 in the municipality of Caldas located in the southern end of the Valley of Aburrá and part of the Medellín Metropolitan Area.

His bronze statues are characterized by their enormous proportions and dramatic expression.

Examples of his artwork are:

• Naked Bolívar in Pereira
• Monument to Race, bronze and concrete, 38 m height, located in La Alpujarra Administrative Center in Medellín
• Sculptural Complex Vargas Swamp Lancers near to Paipa is the largest sculpture in Colombia.
• Monument to Effort in Armenia
• Monument to the Marching Revolution in Valledupar.

Gallery

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  Vargas Swamp Lancers, bronze, steel and concrete, 33 m height, Paipa, Boyacá
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  Monument to Race in Medellín
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  Monument to Effort, bronze, steel and concrete, 28 m height, Armenia, Colombia
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  Man, creator of Energy, bronze, steel and concrete, 18 m height, located in University of Antioquia
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  Bolivar Condor bronze and concrete, located in the main square of Manizales
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  Liberty Christ, located in Barranquilla
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  The Flute player, concrete and plaster. University of Antioquia
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  Naked Bolivar, Pereira
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  Monument to Jose Eustasio Rivera, Neiva
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  Los Potros, a tribute to José Eustasio Rivera, in Neiva
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  La oración al proscrito in Bogotá
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  Monument to life in Medellín
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  Prometheus Bound, bronze
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  La Gaitana Monument in Neiva
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  Monument to the Founders in Villavicencio