Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies - FAPE

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Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies - FAPE

FAPE is the the public-private
partnership dedicated to providing permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide. FAPE contributes to the U.S.

Department of State's mission of cultural diplomacy by partnering with American artists whose gifts encourage cross-cultural understanding within the diplomatic community and the international public. FAPE fulfills its mission through site-specific commissions, an original print collection, preservation projects, and other arts initiatives. All artworks commissioned or placed by FAPE are gifts, re

presenting generosity among some of the country's greatest artists. As of 2022, FAPE's donations include permanent works by more than 240 preeminent American artists placed in more than 140 countries.

06/12/2026

The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies is profoundly saddened by the death of Duane Michals. He was a talented artist who innovated and expanded visual storytelling through his photography.

In 2021, Duane generously donated an edition of five of his “One Man Band” print series. We were thrilled to send an edition to the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, last year.

Duane was a dear friend to so many at FAPE including Board members Agnes Gund and Sydie Lansing, Professional Fine Arts Committee Chairman Robert Storr, Director Jennifer A. Duncan, and Craig Starr.

In 2022, FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder and her husband Ronald donated the artist’s “THE ROBERT STORRY”, featuring our Professional Fine Arts Committee Chairman. Duane and Rob shared a longstanding friendship and had worked together on multiple projects over the years. We are honored to include this portfolio in our GIFT FOR THE NATION 250 Collection.

Please click the link in our bio to watch Duane’s short film “Moon June Spoon”, with special guests Aggie, Sydie and Craig!

Duane will be deeply missed. We are forever grateful for his tremendous contributions to the art world.

We send our deepest sympathies to Duane’s admirers and friends during this difficult time.

06/09/2026

One week left!

This is the final week to visit FAPE’s exhibition, “Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad”, at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. Curated by Jack Shear, FAPE Board member and President, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, the show features work from FAPE’s three core initiatives, the Original Print, Photography and Site-Specific Collections. It is on view through June 13, 2026.

The Bloomberg Center is free and open to the public Tuesday-Sunday from 11AM-5PM. Reservations are encouraged.

Image:
Installation image of “Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad”. Photo by Poll Bravo/Johns Hopkins University

06/05/2026

In celebration of “Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad”, currently on view at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., FAPE is pleased to highlight several artists from the Washington, D.C. area in the exhibition. This week we are excited to feature Avis Collins Robinson.

Avis was a visual artist best known for her abstract quilted fabric works and paintings. Her art portrays both directly and metaphorically the richness of African American life and the resonance of history. Through her quilts she developed a new visual language of color, form, depth, and perspective with the added element of texture.

In 2023, FAPE commissioned Avis to create a series of eight vibrant, geometric quilts for each elevator bank at the new U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. The artist brought a depth of craft and artistry to her work. Early in her career with the Environmental Protection Agency, she spent a good deal of time in Vietnam and understood the country’s cultural traditions, which she honored in her work. At FAPE’s 2023 State Department dinner, FAPE presented Secretary of State Antony Blinken with the watercolors that Avis designed for each quilt before her untimely death.

Avis made endless contributions to FAPE. Her works are featured in embassies around the world, including Moscow, Russia; London, United Kingdom; and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City.

We are honored to include the first framed quilt for Hanoi in the Bloomberg exhibition. The quilts are being completed under the direction of her husband Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and FAPE Board member Eugene Robinson. Avis’s long-time collaborator is doing the actual quilting, and installation is slated for 2030.

“Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad” is on view through June 13th and is free and open to the public. The Bloomberg Center is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-5pm. Reservations are encouraged.

06/02/2026

Congratulations to FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder who is being honored this evening at The Museum of Modern Art’s annual Party in the Garden. We can think of no one more deserving of this distinguished recognition.

For 30 years, Jo Carole has served as FAPE’s Chairman. FAPE would not be the organization it is today without her steadfast dedication and leadership. She has inspired the greatest artists to give patriotically to our country and support our nation’s vital cultural diplomacy work around the world.

From the millennium GIFT TO THE NATION to the Original Print, Photography, and Site-Specific Collections, Jo Carole has worked tirelessly and given generously to advance FAPE’s mission. Through her vision and guidance, the Collection has grown to include works by more than 280 preeminent American artists.

Jo Carole has prioritized education, cultural outreach, and is stewarding the next generation of cultural ambassadors to ensure FAPE’s future. She is the cornerstone of our program, and her impact on the arts in the United States as well as around the world is unmatched.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Jo Carole on this well-deserved honor and thank her for her dedication, friendship, and endless commitment to FAPE and the arts.

Congratulations, Jo Carole!

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day!

Today we honor all those who have served and are currently serving in our country’s Armed Forces.

This week also commemorates Ellsworth Kelly’s birthday. He would have turned 103 on Saturday. Ellsworth served in World War II as a member of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops known as the “Ghost Army.” This top-secret unit comprised 82 officers and 1,023 men. Their story was not declassified until 1996, more than 40 years after the war.

Following D-Day, when the Ghost Army landed in France, and until the end of the war, the members of the secret unit put on a “traveling road show.” They created decoys of inflatable tanks and sound trucks, as well as fake radio transmissions. More than 20 battlefield deceptions were staged, some very close to the front lines.

To learn more about Ellsworth and his service, click the link in our bio.

Images:

Left: Avis Robinson, “Untitled”, 2025
Right: Ellsworth Kelly, Model for “Beijing Panels”, 2003

Ellsworth Kelly with screen prints, Fort Meade, Maryland, 1943. Courtesy of Ellsworth Kelly Studio

Ellsworth Kelly, a member of the Ghost Army during WWII, stands with a prototype of a decoy vehicle.
Courtesy of Ellsworth Kelly Studio

A unit of the Ghost Army. Courtesy of Ellsworth Kelly Studio

Artist Ellsworth Kelly and a group of FAPE members at our 2017 visit to his studio

05/22/2026

The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies is profoundly saddened by the death of Loretta Pettway. Born into a rich artistic tradition, she was a celebrated member of the Gee’s Bend Quilters.

We are honored to have Loretta’s “Bricklayer” in our Original Print Collection. Paulson Fontaine Press generously donated the publishing. Her edition of 50 etchings was presented to Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte at FAPE’s State Department Dinner on May 3, 2007. The prints are on display in U.S. embassies around the world, including Athens, Greece, and Kolkata, India, among others.

In 2010, FAPE provided the interior art collection for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. We were thrilled to install two of Loretta’s etchings, “Old Beauty” and “Lazy Gal”.

Loretta’s works are invaluable treasures of American history. We are grateful for her contributions to our organization as well as our nation’s cultural diplomacy efforts.

We send our deepest sympathies to Loretta’s family during this difficult time.

Images:
Loretta Pettway. Photo courtesy of Paulson Fontaine Press

Gee’s Bend artists with Diana Negroponte, former Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, former Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta Ford, and FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder

Loretta Pettway, “Bricklayer”, 2007. Gift of the artist and Paulson Fontaine Press

Loretta Pettway, “Lazy Gal”, 2007. Gift of Kay Allaire

Loretta Pettway, “Old Beauty”, 2007. Gift of Kay Allaire

05/15/2026

FAPE sends our tremendous congratulations to Crozier on their 50th anniversary! We are honored to partner with them as the premier art logistics company. Their team is integral to our mission, providing vital support from storage and crating, to shipping and installation. Everything is always carried out with the utmost professionalism and care.

As we mark FAPE’s 40th year of operations and the 250th anniversary of the United States this year, we are pleased to open the doors to our program beyond diplomatic spaces and into classrooms, museums, and communities throughout the country. FAPE was delighted to loan more than 75 works from our Original Print and Photography Collections for display in the lobbies of nine Crozier offices in 2025.

“Crozier has been an invaluable partner to FAPE for nearly four decades, advancing our mission to share American art with the world. Their expertise and support are integral to our program. We are delighted to commemorate this landmark year for both our organizations by sharing works from our Print and Photography Collections in their offices nationwide.” - Jennifer A. Duncan, FAPE Director

In February, FAPE was thrilled to collaborate with Crozier on the Crayola Creative Freedom Campaign. They built custom crates modeled after Crayola’s 250th logo, installed replicas of the 1823 William J. Stone Declaration of Independence at six institutions across the United States, and hosted educational workshops for students. The initiative was a great success, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without their expertise.

Most recently, Crozier partnered with Jack Shear, FAPE Board member and President of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, on the installation of “Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad” at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.

We are endlessly grateful for the efforts of the entire Crozier team and are honored that James Hendy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crozier Fine Arts, is a member of our Board.

05/14/2026

Please join us in wishing Jack Shear, FAPE Board member since 2008, a very happy birthday! FAPE is endlessly grateful to Jack for his extraordinary contributions to our organization.

From serving as Chairman of our Fine Arts Committee to curating exhibitions featuring FAPE’s Collection, we have benefitted immensely from Jack’s unending support and expertise. His leadership, guidance, and steadfast dedication are unmatched.

FAPE is thrilled to announce that Jack will contribute this year’s edition to our Photography Collection. His work will be presented at our annual dinner on Wednesday, October 14th.

The Photography Collection was started in 2013 when it was inaugurated with works by Tina Barney and William Wegman. It now features 16 artists including Richard Benson, Dawoud Bey, Clifford Ross, Cindy Sherman, and Carrie Mae Weems, among others. We know that Jack’s gift will be a spectacular addition.

Thank you, Jack! Happy Birthday!

Images:

FAPE Board member Jack Shear and FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder at FAPE’s 2024 Annual Events

FAPE Director Jennifer A. Duncan; FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder; Curator, FAPE Board Member, and President, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Jack Shear; and FAPE President Eden Rafshoon

FAPE Board members Nancy Marks and Jack Shear with Dame Karen Pierce at FAPE’s 2024 Annual Events

Artist Carrie Mae Weems and FAPE Board member Jack Shear

FAPE Board members Bob Colacello and Jack Shear at FAPE’s 2020 USUN dinner

Robert Storr, Chairman, FAPE Professional Fine Arts Committee; Rosamund Morley; and FAPE Board member Jack Shear at FAPE’s 2023 Annual Events

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

Image:
Janet Fish, “Spring Flowers/Yellow Vase”, 2004, Digital pigment print, 20 x 16 inches, Gift of Ann and Graham Gund

05/09/2026

“The Collection of Agnes Gund”, a selection of three masterpieces from the personal collection of one of the most generous, beloved, and impactful art patrons of all time, is the centerpiece of Christie’s Marquee Week in New York this month. The works are by pioneers of the modern and post-war eras, Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, and Joseph Cornell.

The works go on public view today and will be part of Christie’s 20th century evening sale on May 18th. To learn more, click here.

FAPE would not be the organization it is today without Aggie. She was a devoted and trusted Board member for 23 years. From the arts, to education, to social justice, there were no bounds to her kindness and generosity.

FAPE is endlessly grateful to Christie’s for their partnership. For more than 10 years, they have provided essential support—from the FAPE Circle Artful Day each summer to our Annual Events in Washington D.C. We are honored that Marc Porter, Chairman of Christie’s America, is a member of our Board.

Images:
Agnes Gund in her New York apartment. Photo: Stefan Ruiz for Vogue © Condé Nast. Artwork: © 2026 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; © Christo 2000

Mark Rothko, “No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)”, 1964, Oil on canvas

Cy Twombly, “Untitled”, 1961, Oil, graphite, wax crayon, and oil-based house paint on canvas

Joseph Cornell, “Untitled (Medici Princess)”, 1948, Wood box construction, wood, printed paper collage, paint, glass, metal, mirror, cork, marble, feather, colored aluminum foil and thread

Standing: FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder, FAPE Board members Sydie Lansing and Bob Colacello, artist Clifford Ross, FAPE Vice President Darren Walker, FAPE Professional Fine Arts Committee Chairman Robert Storr, Rosamund Morley, Jeffrey Hoone, Cetie Ames, and Jamie Bennett
Seated: FAPE Board member Agnes Gund with a photograph by William Wegman

FAPE President Eden Rafshoon and Marc Porter, Chairman, Christie’s Americas at FAPE’s 2019 Annual Events

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+12023493865

Website

https://fapeculturaldiplomacy.org/

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