This paper examines the transformative potential of two contemporary Colombian artworks on society. The question is interesting in light of the internal conflict and a recent increased activity in the art market in Colombia. Two installations created by Colombian artists are contrasted in order to approach the question. Doris Salcedo’s Plegaria muda (2008-2010) and Ludmila Ferrari’s Cultus (2007-2015) provide an interesting basis for comparison because the two artworks differ with respect to their involvement with art institutions. The installations are juxtaposed along different dimensions: how they encourage connections amongst citizens and transcend their immediate publics by linking different audiences, as well as how they restructure space so as to introduce a different set of norms.