Colombian-American artist Mateo Blanco, renowned for his work exploring identity, history, and national symbols, has announced the donation of two of his pieces to the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio, United States. This gesture marks a new chapter in the artist’s career, whose works are already part of the permanent collections of institutions such as the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the Museum of Art – DeLand, and the MAJA Museum of Jericó, Antioquia.
Two flags, one tribute: Colombian artist’s works join the Butler Institute Collection
The donated pieces, “Presidential Flag” and “Yellow Flag,” symbolize the connection between the ancestral and the contemporary. The first, made with gold and platinum leaf, serves as a personal tribute to Blanco’s friendship with former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. The second, a digital graphic artwork, belongs to his acclaimed Flags series, which examines the meanings and transformations of the flag symbol in social and political contexts.
Both works were previously exhibited at the Butler Institute, where they were viewed by hundreds of visitors. Now, as part of the museum’s permanent collection, Blanco celebrates the opportunity for “everyone to see them forever in the museum,” reaffirming his commitment to fostering dialogue between Colombian and American art.
A legacy inspired by Debora Arango
Blanco, a student and close friend of legendary Colombian artist Debora Arango, reflected on her influence when announcing the donation. “With my works and this donation, I pay tribute to Arango. My art, like hers, addresses political and social themes, because art must be both a voice and a conscience,” he said.
Arango, who in the 1980s donated more than 200 works to the Medellin Museum of Art—a bold act that sparked debate for the critical and social nature of her art—served as an enduring inspiration for Blanco. He continues her legacy of courage, artistic freedom, and social reflection through his own creations.
Founded in 1919, the Butler Institute of American Art was the first museum in the world dedicated exclusively to American art. With the addition of Blanco’s works, the institution broadens its scope to include contemporary expressions that explore identity, national symbols, and the dialogue between tradition and modernity, cementing Mateo Blanco as one of the most representative voices in Colombian-American contemporary art.