The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies is profoundly saddened to learn of the death of artist Frank Stella. FAPE met Frank 35 years ago through our Founding President, Wendy Luers, and her husband, Ambassador William Luers.

Thanks to Wendy and Bill, Frank inaugurated our Original Print Collection in 1989 when he contributed The Symphony in an edition large enough for a print to be sent to every U.S. embassy. The lithograph was part of a series inspired by Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby Dick.

Its swirling, tossed cut-out forms relate to the heavy seas in which Moby Dick, the behemoth whale, resides. The title of Stella’s print is taken from a chapter in the book in which Ahab, the captain, muses about his solitary life at sea before his last and fatal battle with the whale.

For our millennium GIFT TO THE NATION, seven magnificent works by Frank were included and are on display at U.S. Embassies from Ottawa, Canada, to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

His most significant contribution to FAPE came in 2022, thanks to Agnes Gund, Frank agreed to create a site-specific work for the entrance of the new U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. We are honored that his double-star sculpture was completed this past April.

Frank’s contributions to American art are immeasurable. His work will have a lasting impact and remain an important part of our nation’s cultural diplomacy efforts around the world. We are forever grateful for his generosity to our program.

We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Harriet; his children, Laura, Michael, Patrick, Peter, and Rachel; and his beloved grandchildren.

Click here to read Frank Stella’s obituary in The New York Times.