Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro leaves the Casa de Nariño on Aug. 7 [1] amid symbolic changes to the presidential palace.

These alterations represent more than a routine change of administration. The removal of specific art and décor signals a shift in the visual and political identity of the Colombian state as it transitions to a new government.

Among the most notable changes is the removal of Fernando Botero’s sculpture, “La paloma de la paz.” The artwork is being returned to the National Museum in Bogotá [2]. The director of the National Museum said the sculpture will return as part of the presidential transition process [3].

Beyond the Botero piece, officials are removing lighting and other décor installed during Petro's term [4]. These modifications are intended to reset the environment for the incoming administration. A spokesperson for the presidency said they are closing a stage and leaving the Casa de Nariño ready for the new management [5].

The transition includes the stripping of specific aesthetic elements that defined the palace during Petro's tenure. This process ensures that the physical space of the presidency reflects the incoming leadership's priorities, rather than the previous administration's preferences [4].

The return of the peace dove sculpture is viewed as a symbolic return to the peace-process commitments associated with the artwork [2]. By moving the piece back to a public museum, the transition team is decoupling the specific art from the daily operations of the executive office.

““La escultura volverá al Museo Nacional como parte del proceso de transición presidencial.””

The removal of the 'Paloma de la paz' and Petro-era décor suggests a desire by the incoming administration to distance itself from the aesthetic and symbolic markers of the previous term. By returning the sculpture to the National Museum, the new government shifts the symbol of peace from a tool of executive branding to a piece of national heritage, reflecting a potential change in how peace processes are communicated to the public.