Sponsor
Bank of America

1986 FAPE Founding
FAPE was established in 1986 by Leonore Annenberg, Wendy W. Luers, Carol Price, and Lee Kimche McGrath (pictured in order above). FAPE's mission has been to assist the State Department in its various programs designed to exhibit and preserve American art in U.S. diplomatic facilities throughout the world.
1986 Inaugural Gala/Annual Events
FAPE held its inaugural gala in October 1986. The event boasted over 600 guests, including then-Secretary of State George P. Shultz, pictured above with Lee Kimche McGrath, Leonore Annenberg and Wendy W. Luers (pictured above). The gala started a tradition for the Annual Events, which are held each year in Washington, DC.
1987 Sotheby's
Thanks to FAPE's President Emerita, Wendy W. Luers, the organization's most important achievement during its first year was the initiation of a continuing <i>pro bono</i> relationship between Sotheby's and the State Department to appraise high-value furnishings at U.S. embassies around the world.
1989 Beijing, China
With funding provided by FAPE, and with the help of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, an interior designer and Chinese furnishings expert, FAPE took on its first redecoration project -- transforming the diplomatic and representational rooms on the first floor of the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Beijing, China.
1989 Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection
Named for FAPE's Founding Director, the Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection started in 1989 when Frank Stella donated The Symphony in an edition large enough for a print to be sent to every American embassy. The Collection includes editions by 19 of America's most influential artists. <br /><span class='credit'>Frank Stella, <i>The Symphony</i></span>
1990 Warsaw, Poland
After the successful completion of the Beijing restoration project, Ambassador Nicholas Rey requested that FAPE fund the redecoration of the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Warsaw, Poland. The project was overseen by Board Member Harriette Levine, and FAPE donated several works of art, including pieces by John Bladessari, Donald Judd and Frank Stella, among others..
1990 Rome, Italy
FAPE donated significant funding toward the repair of the statuary, paintings and antiquities at Palazzo Margherita, the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Statues of particular note that were restored with FAPE funds include a 2nd century A.D. Roman marble figure of Eirene and the reclining statue of Silenus.
1991 Bass Gift / Berlin, Germany
In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, Nancy Lee and Perry Bass made a gift to FAPE. In 2008, their contribution was used to partially fund the installation of Ellsworth Kelly's totem sculpture at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.<br /><br /><span class='credit'>Ellsworth Kelly, <i>Berlin Totem</i> © Ellsworth Kelly/Photograph: Jack Shear</span>
1993 Residence of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Since 1947, the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations has been an apartment in a New York City hotel. When Madeleine Albright became Ambassador in 1993, FAPE worked with her to redecorate the space.
1995 Gemini G.E.L. LLC
FAPE has partnered with Gemini G.E.L LLC, a printmaking workshop based in California, that generously published artists' portfolios for FAPE's Original Print Collection. Artist editions donated by Gemini include: John Baldessari, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Elizabeth Murray, Susan Rothenberg and Ed Rusha.<br /><span class='credit'> Elizabeth Murray, <i>Deep Blue C</i></span>
1995 New Delhi, India
Thanks to a generous gift from General Electric, FAPE commissioned a mural by artist Karen Lukas, which was installed in the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in New Delhi, India. The work was completed in time for First Lady Hillary Clinton’s visit in April 1995.
1996 Singapore, Republic of Singapore
FAPE commissioned Jim Melchert to create a permanent tile installation at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Singapore. His design for the murals in the entry room of the residence were inspired by lively native myths and deities, as well as traditional art techniques of the region.
1996 10th Anniversary and Prague, Czech Republic
In honor of FAPE’s 10th Anniversary, the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation awarded a grant to FAPE for several restoration projects at Petschek Palace, the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Prague, Czech Republic. The Goldsmith Foundation also funded a commemorative book on FAPE’s first ten years.
1997 Buenos Aires, Argentina
FAPE funded the restoration of the wood paneling in the Ballroom, the Music Room, and the State Dining Room at Bosch Palace, the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1998 - 2001 GIFT TO THE NATION
In May 1998, FAPE announced its GIFT TO THE NATION project at a dinner at the White House hosted by President and Mrs. Clinton. The gift is comprised of 245 American artworks that have been placed permanently at U.S. embassies. The first gift was unveiled at the dinner – Roy Licthenstein's Reflections on Senorita, donated by his widow, Dorothy.
1998 Paris, France
Preservation of the Hotel de Talleyrand, an American Embassy Annex building, began in 1998 when Mrs. Betty Knight Scripps, through FAPE, provided the funding for the initial stage of the project. The World Monuments Fund, the Getty Foundation, and many other private and corporate entities provided the remaining funds to restore the ten rooms at the Marshall Center. The building was formally dedicated in 2010.
1999 Ottawa, Canada and Site-Specific Projects
In 1998, FAPE commissioned Joel Shapiro to contribute a sculpture for the lawn at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, which was installed the following year. After the successful completion of this project, FAPE shifted its focus to commissioning site-specific works at the new U.S. embassies being constructed by the State Department.<br /><span class='credit'>Joel Shapiro, <i>Conjunction</i> © Joel Shapiro/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Photograph: Raul Alferez</span>
2000 London, United Kingdom
As part of the GIFT TO THE NATION, funds were raised through the generosity of Janice H. Levin to create the Janice H. Levin Sculpture Garden at Winfield House, the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in London, United Kingdom. The focal point of the garden is an Elie Nadelman sculpture, <i>Seated Woman with Raised Arm</i>.
2001 Partnership with the Checkerboard Film Foundation
To accompany FAPE's site-specific projects, FAPE has partnered with the Checkerboard Film Foundation to produce a series of films documenting the fabrication and installation of the artists' work. Above, artist Ellsworth Kelly (far left) prepares for filming.
2007 Gee’s Bend Prints
FAPE added prints created by four Gee's Bend, Alabama, quilters to the Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection - Louisiana Bendolph, Loretta Bennett, Loretta Pettway, and Mary Lee Bendolph (pictured above). Paulson Press provided the plate-making and proofing of the Gee's Bend prints.
2008 Berlin, Germany
In February 2008, a team from Sol LeWitt's studio installed Wall Drawing #1256: Five Pointed Stars. FAPE also contributed the interior art collection for this post. Located in the glass encased Behrenstrasse entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, the wall drawing is visible to the public. The work was a gift of the artist and The Honorable Ronald S. Lauder and Mrs. Jo Carole Lauder. <br /><span class='credit'>Sol LeWitt, <i>Wall Drawing #1256: Five Pointed Stars</i> Photography Werner Huthmacher, Berlin</span>
2009 The Leonore and Walter Annenberg Award
FAPE established the <i>Leonore and Walter Annenberg Award for Diplomacy through the Arts</i> in 2009 to honor distinguished American individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in furthering global understanding of the United States. Recipients of the Award include Justice Stephen G. Breyer (2009, pictured above on right with Ellsworth Kelly who designed the award); Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (2010); and Agnes Gund (2011).
2009 Partnership with QMA and STUDIO IN A SCHOOL
FAPE's project at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, is a large-scale mural by Dorothea Rockburne in honor of Colin Powell and his family who come from Jamaica. Motivated by the project, FAPE, the Queens Museum of Art and STUDIO IN A SCHOOL worked with a group of New York high school students in a summer program entitled, "Artist as Ambassador." Students learned about the role artists can play in advancing international relations.
2010 New York, New York
The State Department approached FAPE in 2007 to provide the art collection for the new U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York. In 2010, FAPE contributed three site-specific installations, and placed works by 65 artists in more than 180 spaces throughout 19 floors of the building. This was FAPE's largest project to date.<br /><span class='credit'>Odili Donald Odita, <i>Light and Vision</i> Photograph © Paul Warchol </span>
2011 25th Anniversary
FAPE celebrated its 25th Anniversary during its Annual Events in Washington, DC, on May 19 and 20 at Blair House and the National Gallery of Art. Brice Marden (far right) presented his print for the Original Print Collection, and Martin Puryear (center) unveiled his design for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. The artists are pictured above with Earl A. Powell III, Director of the Gallery, FAPE Chairman, Jo Carole Lauder, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<br /><span class='credit'>Photo by Mary Hilliard, Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art</span>

1725 I Street, NW, Suite 300 . Washington, DC 20006 . US . 202.349.3724(voice) . 202.349.3727(fax) . info@fapeglobal.org