MASTER
CLASSES
ENGAGING LOCAL ARTISTS IN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, CLASSES, AND CROSS-CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS
Reaching
out to local
Communities
Person to Person Relationships
Through the Visual Arts

Cultural Exchanges

Since 2002, Art in Embassies has sent over 200 U.S. artists as cultural envoys to local communities. Their participation in lectures, workshops, collaborative art projects, public events, and media interviews have made it possible to establish person-to-person relationships and discover common interests and concerns. Art in Embassies projects and programs engage local audiences in a cross-cultural exchange of ideas.

Featured Cultural Exchanges

Art used as a form of cultural diplomacy is more important now that ever because art can transcend language and cultural barriers and helps us focus on positive and peaceful alliances.

Maya Freelon Asante

All Exchanges

2019

Yunhee Min

““Culture is about people, how we live, communicate, what we...
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Courtney Mattison

American artist Courtney Mattison draws inspiration from our oceans and...
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Ben Aranda and Terrol Dew Johnson

As part of their collaboration for a commission in the...
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Donna Rhae Marder

“As an artist I value a variety of visual experiences...
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Michele Lasker

American fiber artist Michele Lasker traveled to Lima, Peru to...
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MFON Women Photographers of the African Diaspora

Fine art and documentary photographers Adama Delphine Fawundu and Laylah...
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Kristin Pluhacek

Nebraska artist Kristin Pluhacek traveled to Asmara, Eritrea, to facilitate...
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2018

Alice Hope

“Cultural diplomacy is lasting. Its long term vision bridges communication...
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Betsy Eby

“I have found that when hands and minds come together...
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2017

RW Franklin

“In a world where communications are increasingly complex and languages...
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Sharif Bey

“It is critical that we all learn how to listen...
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George Ann Gowan

“I am still amazed by all I was able to...
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Margery Amdur

“On Friday March 24th, after a long, grueling day of...
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Yael Kanarek

“I came to Zimbabwe to research the languages of Zimbabwe...
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Dianna Cohen

"Hopefully, through my art and sharing my process and the...
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Gwyneth Leech

"Art has no walls.. by traveling to Benin, and meeting...
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2016

Cheryl Pope

“In general my research revealed the vital importance in the...
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Hope Sandrow

“In general my research revealed the vital importance in the...
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Courtney Leonard

In September of 2016, artist Courtney Leonard traveled to Switzerland,...
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Christian Faur

“As a full time working faculty member at Denison University...
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Catherine Opie

In March of 2016, artist Catherine Opie and Philip Taaffe...
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Philip Taaffe in Madrid

Philip Taaffe

In March of 2016, artist Catherine Opie and Philip Taaffe...
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Margery Amdur

“Facts, pedagogy, mythologies, policies can be readily found and shared...
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Sybille Szaggars Redford

"In May of 2016 I was lucky to find myself...
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Betsy Tobin

“I found it fascinating to see up close how positive...
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George Sherwood

“First of all it was an honor to be asked...
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Mark Cameron Boyd

“The first step in understanding a diverse culture is taken...
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Isabella Kirkland

Today I went to meet the curators of the zoological...
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Eric Rhein

“Seeding friendships and future opportunities to share my work and...
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Diane Burko

“As an artist who has contributed to the Art in...
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Students and faculty of Hacettepe University School of Fine Art pose with Mitchell after his talk.

Dennis Lee Mitchell

"Presenting my work in another culture put to the test...
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2015

Isaias Crow

I think that in my case it is very important...
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Stephen Alvarez

“There are things you can do better in a mobile...
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AIDAI Design Studio visit in Bishkek.

Alexis Callender

In many ways, it seems vital that art helps to...
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Participant in Maun workshop

Peter Clouse

This kind of cultural diplomacy is important,…some of the best...
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Jill Galarneau

Participating in an Art in Embassies exchange simultaneously heightened my...
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Jacquelyn Gleisner

“I had never been to Africa before and part of...
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Artist Noe Tanigawa leads a Youth Mosaic workshop for students from George P. Harris and Koror Elementary schools.

Noe Tanigawa

“I do not know what impact this exchange may have...
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Presentation and overview of body of work by Ryan Holladay

Ryan Holladay

Our work is the creation of an interpretation of the...
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Valerie Piraino

“I’m a Rwandan-American artist and I spent my formative years...
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Nick Cave

“What my work is about, is that it hides gender,...
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Eric Fischl

Art brings order to chaos. It gives it voice; it...
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Marie Watt

"Art exists within us. It’s about breaking down barriers. Every...
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Stephen Wilkes

"To me, this is the most exciting moment in the...
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Foon Sham

“For me, travelling to new places and meeting people from...
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Dan Namingha

“We were thrilled to have Dan Namingha, a renowned Native...
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2014

Maye Torres

As an artist and global citizen, this exchange was like...
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Melissa Meyer

Participating in the Art in Embassies program has been a...
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Dakar Embassy Mural

In the spring of 2014, inspired by conversations with State...
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Abbie Read

“My mind is brimming with new knowledge, fresh experiences and...
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Fran Siegel

For me, this was one of the most meaningful aspects...
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Spencer Finch

Artist Spencer Finch, whose Moonlight window installation is currently on...
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Julie Mehretu

Artist Julie Mehretu was invited by Chief Curator Virginia Shore...
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Workingman Collective

"...We've been exploring Monrovia, shaking hands, listening, digging into all...
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Timothy Chapman

Let me say that I do not consider myself the...
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Bennington College

Working with the Arts in Embassies program in Norway, I...
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Phillips Mural Project

Following the success of the Senegalese Artist Exchange project in...
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Sanford Biggers

“The invitation for me to moderate a series of panel...
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Robert Pruitt

“The invitation for me to moderate a series of panel...
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Michael Rohde

“Most artists work in relative isolation, so the chance to...
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Jo Fleming

“The spirit and soul of Mongolia came to life through...
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Navajo Generations

My clan is Hooghanlani, and my father’s clan is Nakai...
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2013

Patrick Dougherty

“This kind of work reaches out on a real human...
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Patrick Hayashi

In September of 2013, artist Patrick Hayashi was invited by...
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Chakaia Booker

“Without color… there is no life… it is for that...
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Richard Tuttle

On November 4, 2013, artist Richard Tuttle spoke about his...
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Jackie Brookner

“As an artist whose work focuses on water remediation, I...
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Chris Flisher

“This Artist Exchange in Cape Verde was a fantastic experience...
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Rosa Ibarra

“What I find so interesting about traveling is seeing the...
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Cheryl Pope

“Through research, experimentation, and collaboration, I produce works addressing specific...
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2012

Sharon Cosgrove

Art in Embassies exchange artist, Sharon Cosgrove, visited Kazakhstan from...
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Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons/ ART in Embassies (AIE) / U.S. Embassy Beijing...
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Nancy Lovendahl

Art in Embassies artist Nancy Lovendahl visited Belize from November...
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Jenny Honnert Abell

The honor of an Art in Embassy commission took me...
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Nick Cave

Art in Embassies Chief Curator Virginia Shore commissioned Nick Cave...
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Victoria Greising

Victoria Greising recently completed an AIE exchange in Botswana. She...
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Maya Lin

In October 2012, Maya Lin was the second in the...
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Brice Marden

Brice Marden participated in the AIE American Artist Lecture Series...
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Soukaina Aziz El Idrissi

Soukaina Aziz El Idrissi, a textile artist born and raised...
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Chris Doyle

In the age of the internet, new relationships happen across...
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Pedro Reyes

In 2009, Art in Embassies partnered with the San Francisco...
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2011

Maggie Michael

During the winter of 2011, the chief curator at ART...
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Frank Day

I flew in to Khartoum many times before I got...
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Julie Wolfe

The designer and artist Julie Wolfe visited Ecuador from September...
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2010

Elizabeth DaCosta Ahern

"The visiting artist program was an extraordinary experience. As a...
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Jefferson Pinder

Jefferson Pinder visited Khartoum, Sudan from November 24 through 26,...
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Lucas Reiner

American artist Lucas Reiner visited Riga, Latvia from March 27th...
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2009

Maya Freelon Asante

Maya Freelon Asante traveled to Antananarivo, Madagascar in 2010 to...
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Phil Epp

Phil Epp of Newton, Kansas, traveled to Kazakhstan in September...
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Ramon Camarillo

Ceramic artist Ramon Camarillo collaborated with ART in Embassies for...
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Laurie Goddard

Visiting artist Laurie Goddard hosted five days of workshops with...
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2008

Nasreen Haroon

Nasreen Haroon traveled on behalf of Art in Embassies to...
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Peter Bruun

Art in Embassies, partnering with U.S. Embassy in Amman facilitated...
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John Domont

John Domont’s visit to Thailand on behalf of ART in...
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Xu Bing

Xu Bing accompanied the ART in Embassies team to Beijing...
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Mari Gardner

Mari Gardner traveled to Mbabane, Swaziland from November 8 to...
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2007

Lynn Marie Kirby

"I have been using scanning technology as a way to...
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Janos Enyedi

American sculptor Janos Enyedi hosted lectures as well as Q&A...
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Jessica Snow

Montevideo, Uruguay was pleased to have two American artists, Jessica...
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Anya Spielman

Montevideo, Uruguay was pleased to have two American artists, Jessica...
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James Koehler

After one of his tapestries was chosen to decorate the...
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Judith James

Four American artists, including jewelry artist Lisa Vershbow, quiltmaker Michael...
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Michael James

Four American artists, including jewelry artist Lisa Vershbow, quiltmaker Michael...
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Brad Story

Four American artists, including jewelry artist Lisa Vershbow, quiltmaker Michael...
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Lisa Vershbow

Four American artists, including jewelry artist Lisa Vershbow, quiltmaker Michael...
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Sheila Kramer

Sheila Kramer visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem from November 16...
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2006

Thomas Paquette

American artist Thomas Paquette collaborated with ART in Embassies in...
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Patricia Spark

Patricia Spark is an American artist most commonly known for...
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Arlene Shechet

American artist Arlene Shechet went to Hanoi and Saigon, Vietnam...
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Linda Touby

Linda Touby served as an Art Ambassador to Kuwait City,...
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Elizabeth Ahern

Luso-American painter Elizabeth Ahern participated in ART in Embassies visiting...
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2005

Avani Patel

Avani Patel’s works hang in the Ambassador’s residence in Panama...
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2004

Josh Simpson

Master glassworker Josh Simpson traveled to Singapore and Brunei from...
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Denise Allen

American folk artist Denise Allen was chosen to visit Dakar,...
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Ernest Varner

Painter and portraitist Ernest Varner acted as an art ambassador...
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William Wright

American photographer William Wright visited the Sultanate of Oman from...
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Josette Urso

Josette Urso, American watercolor painter, was the invited guest of...
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Tjelda Vander Meijen

Artist Tjelda vander Meijden traveled to Reykjavik, Iceland for Art...
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Merryll Saylan

Merryll Saylan, an American wood turner, journeyed to Fiji at...
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2003

Joyce Kozloff

Joyce Kozloff visited Istanbul, Turkey from June 7th through the...
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Laurie Wohl

Fiber artist Laurie Wohl traveled to Johannesburg and Pretoria, South...
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Therman Statom

Therman Statom visited Maputo, Mozambique from June 17 through July...
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2002

Emily Eveleth

Artists Emily Eveleth and Carter Potter, during the two hectic...
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Carter Potter

Artists Emily Eveleth and Carter Potter, during the two hectic...
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Johnny Johnson

Johnny Johnson visited Cotonou, Benin in October, 2002. On October...
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Karen Gunderson

During her week-long visit to Lome, Togo from September 22...
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Karen Koblitz

Ceramic artist Karen Koblitz served as a visiting artist to...
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Eve Andree Laramee

Eve Andree Laramee visited Ottawa and Montreal, Canada from October...
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Valentina Dubasky

New York based artist Valentina Dubasky was chosen to act...
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Michelle Torrez

American artist Michelle Torrez’s visit to Sofia, Bulgaria complemented the...
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Artists from around the world who have exhibited with Art in Embassies
Over 50 years of international exhibitions
International Lecture Series, Collaborations, and Partnerships
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