12/7/25 UPDATE: This item has been sold to a private collector via eBay. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest and reached out about its provenance and history.
This 22″ × 18″ (framed) oil painting, signed “Diego Sisay ’10,” portrays an indigenous Guatemalan figure with dignity and poise. The artwork reflects the artistic traditions of Santiago Atitlán, a lakeside community known for producing some of Guatemala’s most respected indigenous painters.
The Sisay family stands at the center of this tradition. The patriarch, Juan Sisay (1921–1989), was a Tz’utujil Maya painter whose depictions of village life, ceremonies, and landscapes established him among Guatemala’s most celebrated artists. His paintings are marked by a distinctive folk realism that earned international exhibitions and the Orden del Quetzal, Guatemala’s highest civilian honor.
His sons, including Juan Diego Sisay, continued that legacy into the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Unlike his father’s bustling village scenes, Juan Diego focused on portraiture — capturing individual sitters whose expressions convey both cultural identity and personal humanity. This portrait is a clear example of that approach: a direct, intimate likeness rooted in indigenous tradition and history.
The painting also entered the realm of diplomacy. On March 8, 2010, Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom presented it to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her official visit to Guatemala. At the time, Colom was advancing social programs aimed at reducing poverty and promoting inclusion, while Clinton’s visit reflected the United States’ effort to renew engagement in Central America through cooperation and development.
The symbolic gift of an indigenous portrait carried layers of meaning. It honored Guatemala’s indigenous heritage, highlighted the dignity of communities often underrepresented, and reflected Colom’s emphasis on social inclusion. For Clinton and the United States, it was both a cultural gesture and a reminder of shared values and partnership.
As a work of art, “Diego Sisay ’10” is an intimate portrait within the Atitlán tradition — bridging folk realism with individualized representation. As a diplomatic gift, it shows how art can transcend aesthetics to serve as a bridge between nations. The painting endures as a symbol of dignity, identity, and mutual respect — and as a lasting reminder of how a single canvas can capture not only a face, but also a moment in history.
Provenance & Documentation
This painting’s history is firmly grounded in official U.S. government records and a complete chain of custody.
Gift Origin (2010)
On March 8, 2010, Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom presented the work to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her official visit to Guatemala City. The presentation is recorded in the Federal Register (Vol. 78, No. 101, May 24, 2013), where it appears as a “22″ × 18″ painting of indigenous male” with the disposition noted as “Pending Transfer to the General Services Administration.”
Transfer to GSA Custody
The painting entered the General Services Administration (GSA) Foreign Gift inventory. It was catalogued under Lot #11QSCI25312 / Item 091, and remains identifiable through a partial government property sticker still affixed to the reverse, listing “Colom” as the donor.
Public Auction (2025) and Private eBay sale.
After completing government retention and review, the artwork was formally released through GSA Auctions (Springfield, Virginia) in September 2025. Epoch Collection acquired the piece, with full purchase and payment documentation included. It was later transferred to a private collector through an eBay sale in December 2025.
Epoch Collection 