The US Embassy in Santo Domingo has recently undergone a notable transformation in its art collection, reflecting the current administration’s approach to cultural diplomacy. Ambassador Leah Campos, a former CIA officer, has overseen changes that include the removal of certain artworks and the addition of others, sparking a conversation about the role of art in diplomatic spaces.
The embassy’s art collection is managed through the Art in Embassies program, which has acquired and commissioned hundreds of artworks for display in embassies and ambassadors’ residences. This program aims to promote cultural exchange and foster mutual understanding between nations.
Controversial Removals and Additions
One of the most controversial changes was the removal of Kehinde Wiley’s painting Young Artists After Siamesas 1960 which depicted four local art students. The painting was described in official State Department literature as a work that ‘masterfully weaves together disparate historical and cultural elements into a cohesive image.’ However, it was covered up by a jingoism-plastered tarp and later removed from the wall.
In its place, the ambassador installed Marc Lipp’s Fight Fight Fight a depiction of President Donald Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist, painted by one of the president’s favorite Palm Beach watercolorists. Additionally, Jasper Johns’s Tattered Banner a lithograph donated to the Art in Embassies collection by Leo Castelli was added to the collection.
The Administration’s Stance on Cultural Diplomacy
Ambassador Leah Campos stated that her intention is for everything projected from the US Embassy Santo Domingo, including the art and decor, to reflect the beauty, strength, and commitment to liberty of the United States and its people. This stance aligns with the current administration’s focus on American patriotism and a move away from what they term ‘globalist and woke ideologies.’
Erin Scavino, the director of Art in Embassies at the State Department, defended the decision to take down the Wiley painting, stating that it did not align with the embassy’s mission. She argued that the mission of an America First State Department is not to promote the people and culture of another nation but to engage in cultural exchange that meaningfully connects American and host-country history and culture.
The Potential Sale of Removed Artworks
The State Department is considering selling the removed Wiley painting and potentially other artworks as well. Scavino mentioned that the department is consulting with their legal team to determine what options are legally available and what course of action is most appropriate. She suggested that an auction could be the most appropriate method for selling the artwork, but this is still far in the future.
The practice of selling works commissioned for the collection of Art in Embassies is virtually unprecedented. However, according to the organization’s bylaws, doing so would technically be legal, as long as the artwork’s deaccession from the AIE collection was approved by the Office of Art in Embassies.
Broader Implications for Art in Embassies
The removal and potential sale of the Wiley painting have raised questions about what other artworks might be considered for removal. For instance, Amy Sherald’s Equilibrium installed at the US Embassy in Dakar, and Jeffrey Gibson’s Aurora installed at the US Embassy in N’Djamena, could face similar scrutiny due to their associations with the Obama administration and recent controversies.
However, some artworks, such as those installed at the US Embassy in London by Jenny Holzer and Mark Bradford are less likely to be removed due to their permanent and large-scale nature. Holzer’s work is engraved into the building’s stone, and Bradford’s consists of a painting the size of a football field.
The recent changes in the art collection at the US Embassy in Santo Domingo highlight the evolving nature of cultural diplomacy and the role of art in reflecting and shaping national identity. As the administration continues to emphasize American patriotism, the art displayed in diplomatic spaces will likely continue to be a topic of debate and discussion.
