Rebuilding Motherland
Installed in the Coral Gables Museum courtyard, Rebuilding Motherland (2004) is a public sculpture created in fiberglass and paint that reflects on resilience, reconciliation, and the collective responsibility to rebuild communities in times of crisis.
The sculpture portrays a Guajira woman carefully mending a torn Venezuelan flag. Through this simple yet powerful gesture, the work transforms an act of repair into a universal symbol of healing, inviting viewers to reflect on the importance of restoring not only what has been damaged, but also the social bonds that unite a nation.
Originally conceived in response to the deterioration of Venezuela’s civic and social fabric during the Bolivarian Revolution under Hugo Chávez, Rebuilding Motherland has acquired renewed significance following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
Today, the sculpture serves as a poignant reminder that recovery depends on solidarity, shared purpose, and the willingness to repair what has been broken.
About the Artist
Born in Caracas in 1939, Beatriz Kohn is a Venezuelan sculptor whose career spans more than six decades. After studying law at the Central University of Venezuela, she pursued her artistic training in New York under sculptor José de Creeft. Her work has been exhibited throughout Venezuela, Europe, Mexico, and the United States, and is represented in public and private collections internationally. Kohn lives and works in New York.
Sponsored by Kohn Irrevocable Trust LLC