State Department Strips a Kehinde Wiley Painting It Commissioned From the Santo Domingo Embassy and Is Exploring Selling It

The State Department has removed Kehinde Wiley's Young Artists After Siamesas 1960, a painting it commissioned in 2013 with taxpayer funds for the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, and a senior official said the department is "in the process of discussions with legal representatives to ascertain whether the art can be sold." The official cited sexual misconduct allegations Wiley denies and a 2012 remark about his Judith and Holofernes series, saying such an artist "has no place in the America First State Department." Ambassador Leah Campos posted video of the deinstallation on Aug. 11, writing that the embassy was "turning away from globalist and woke ideologies."

Art in Embassies has operated since 1963 as a cultural-diplomacy program. Deaccessioning a commissioned work over the artist's speech and conduct, rather than curatorial judgment, extends the administration's content review of federal cultural holdings.

No sale has occurred; the department says it is still assessing legality. Wiley received the State Department's Medal of Arts in 2015 for his contributions to the same program. His galleries did not immediately respond to inquiries.