Current Exhibition
FAPE GIFT FOR THE NATION 250
A Collection of American Art Celebrating our Nation’s 250th Anniversary
FAPE GIFT FOR THE NATION 250
A Collection of American Art Celebrating our Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Saturday, November 8-Sunday, November 30, 2025
Opening Reception, November 7, 6 to 8 pm
International Arts & Artists (IA&A) is proud to once again partner with the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) to present FAPE’s latest art initiative, GIFT FOR THE NATION 250, hosted at IA&A at Hillyer. Works from FAPE’s GIFT FOR THE NATION 250 Collection, as well as a historic replica of the 1823 William J. Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence and pieces from the Original Print and Photography Collections, will be on display from November 8–30. FAPE is a public-private partnership dedicated to providing permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide. The exhibition has been curated by FAPE Board member and Chairman of the Fine Arts Committee, Jack Shear.
Curator’s Statement
FAPE’s latest art initiative is GIFT FOR THE NATION 250, which we are assembling in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary and FAPE’s 40th year of operations in 2026. The Collection is a bold testament to American art, amassing more than 250 exemplary works spanning from the 18th century to the contemporary period. It will tell the evolving story of our nation and how American artists have shaped global perceptions of the United States since its founding 250 years ago.
Works from FAPE’s Original Print and Photography Collections will also be on display. Since 1989, more than 50 artists have generously contributed editions to these programs. The exhibition is meant to honor the artists and donors who have generously supported FAPE since our founding in 1986. All artworks commissioned or placed by FAPE are gifts. They serve as silent ambassadors, bridging cultures and fostering mutual understanding around the world.
About the Curator
Jack Shear (b. 1953) is an artist who lives and works in New York City and Spencertown, NY. He was the partner of artist Ellsworth Kelly for more than 30 years and now serves as President of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation.
Shear’s photography emphasizes portraiture and nudes. He is represented in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and has published several books of his photography. The most recent, Knot (Copper Canyon Press, 2022), is a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Forrest Gander.
Shear has also built a collection of works on paper ranging from old masters to contemporary artists. Recent exhibitions of works from the collection were held at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas, Austin, and at The Drawing Center in New York, NY. In 2020, he was honored by The Drawing Center for his work as a collector. He currently serves on the Drawings and Prints Committee at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the executive committee of the museum’s International Council. Shear is also a trustee for the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies.
Among his many philanthropic initiatives, Shear endowed The Steve Reich Fellowship at The Juilliard School to support emerging talent in contemporary music. He was named a Prince and High Dignitary of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Allude for his support of the Vodoun Cultural Festival and is a founding sponsor of the “Voices of Alabama,” a civil rights oral history project through the World Monuments Fund.
About FAPE
The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) is a public-private partnership dedicated to providing permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide. As of 2025, FAPE has raised more than $215 million in art and monetary contributions and works by more than 250 preeminent American artists have been placed in more than 140 countries. Bank of America has been FAPE’s official sponsor since 2011.
GIFT FOR THE NATION 250 is being assembled with works of American art acquired by FAPE and the generosity of artists and donors. Art from all 50 states will be represented and will include paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photography, decorative objects, crafts, Indigenous, tribal, and folk art.
About International Arts & Artists
International Arts & Artists (IA&A) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing global-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts through exhibitions, programs, and exchanges that support artists, arts institutions, and the public. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., IA&A organizes D.C.-based and traveling exhibitions, facilitates cultural exchange programs, and leads dialogues and convenings that foster greater appreciation of the role of the arts in society, business, and public policy. Its contemporary art space, IA&A at Hillyer, presents exhibitions by emerging and underrepresented artists and serves as a platform for creative collaboration, critical discourse, and public engagement.
