U.S. Embassy - Ottawa, Canada

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada opened in 1999 and was the first embassy to be built by the State Department in over 20 years. It was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) and responds to its historic location—the Byward Market to the east; the Peace Keeping Monument, the National Gallery of Canada and the Ceremonial Parade Route to the north; Canada’s Parliament building, Major’s Hill Park and the river to the west; and finally the York Steps and the city to the south. Symbolizing a bridge, the embassy stands for partnership and alliance.

Artist Commission | Video | Embassy Map

Artist Commission

Joel Shapiro

In 1999 FAPE completed its first site-specific project—Joel Shapiro’s Conjunction—at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. The sculpture is 40-feet-high and is composed of eight bronze beams balanced atop one another and cantilevered into space. It has a powerful yet graceful presence, and is the largest sculpture ever made by the artist.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was present for the dedication ceremony on September 30, 1999. President Clinton dedicated the embassy the following month. Shapiro’s work provides a dramatic addition to Ottawa’s skyline.

Gift of the artist with additional funding provided by Arne Glimcher; Barrick Gold Corporation, Toronto; The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation; Power Corporation of Canada, Montreal; Trizec Hahn Corporation, Toronto; an anonymous donor and members of FAPE’s Millennium Committee

“I wanted Conjunction to be enthusiastic and optimistic and about possibility. ”

— JOEL SHAPIRO

Ambassador Gordon Giffin, FAPE’s Founding Director Lee McGrath, artist Joel Shapiro, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the dedication.

Video

An Artist at Work: Joel Shapiro

U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada
490 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 Canada

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