Full Breakdown
Former “Apprentice” Star Leads State Department Art Exhibit for America’s 250th Anniversary
7/13/2026, 12:35:35 PM
The Exhibition Launch
The State Department’s Art in Embassies program opened “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” on July 30 at the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C. The free exhibition runs through Oct. 18 and showcases more than 30 contemporary American artists whose works explore patriotism, diplomacy, military service, immigration and national identity. Highlights include Barbara Ernst Prey’s flag-inspired painting “Gallantly Streaming,” Romero Britto’s colorful Statue of Liberty reinterpretation, Korina Marie Moore’s photographs of service members, and a haute-couture gown modeled on Betsy Ross’s flag created by designer Kate Wasserbach Moore.
Program History and Domestic Shift
Art in Embassies, established in 1964 under President Kennedy, traditionally places American artwork in roughly 190 diplomatic properties abroad as cultural diplomacy. Director Erin Scavino, a former “The Apprentice” participant hired by President Trump on day one of his administration, said the 250th-anniversary milestone offered a chance to bring the program stateside. She noted that the exhibition’s QR-coded labels let visitors hear directly from artists, aiming to make the experience accessible to “kids, grandparents, moms, dads, and people all over the world.”
Official Government Position
The White House has promoted the exhibit as part of a broader “bold vision” for commemorating the nation’s semiquincentennial, linking it to other high-profile projects such as a proposed towering Independence Arch. Scavino described her appointment as part of President Trump’s effort to “make the performing arts great again” and to elevate visual arts alongside American history.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was a day one hire by President Trump because just like we've seen with the Kennedy Center, he wanted to make the performing arts great again, and he also put me at Art in Embassies to make visual arts great,” — Erin Scavino, Director, Art in Embassies
- “The common thread throughout all of this is President Trump,” — Erin Scavino
- “People often think [the State Department is] really serious, and yes, of course, there's so much diplomacy and so many very serious things that are going on,” — Erin Scavino
- “You don't have to have your nose in the air saying, 'Oh, that Monet' or 'That Degas,'" she said.” — Erin Scavino
- “What I love about art is it's totally different from politics,” — Erin Scavino
