Fernando Botero artwork damage and legacy

On October 7, 2026, a bronze sculpture by Fernando Botero titled ‘La paloma de la paz’ (The Dove of Peace) was damaged at the Museo Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá. The accident occurred in the museum's Rotonda hall when a visitor leaned against the pedestal to take a photograph, causing the piece to tip over and fall onto an iron grate.

A technical assessment by the museum's Conservation Area identified scratches, abrasions, metal dents, and loss of the pictorial layer on various parts of the sculpture, including the head, tail, wings, and beak. The artwork is scheduled to undergo a specialized restoration process to repair the damage.

Botero, recognized globally for his unique artistic language known as “boterismo,” is characterized by voluminous, rounded figures and exaggerated proportions. His international influence is evidenced by works held in major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and bronze sculptures displayed in locations such as Park Avenue in New York and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Following his death, his work continues to command significant attention in the art market, such as his 1979 painting ‘The Musicians’ which fetched $5.1 million at Christie’s New York in November 2023.