Art in Embassies (AIE), a U.S. Department of State program, creates vital cross-cultural dialogue and fosters mutual understanding through the visual arts and dynamic artist exchanges.
AIE develops and presents approximately 60 exhibitions per year and has installed over 70 permanent art collections in more than 200 of the Department’s diplomatic facilities in 189 countries.
To accomplish its mission, AIE engages over 20,000 international participants, including artists, museums, galleries, universities, and private collectors.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of State invited the Whistler House Museum of Art to participate in an AIE exhibition at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain. Home of the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, James Costos (born in Lowell), the embassy featured over eighty-two works on loan by American and Spanish artists, galleries, and museums in one of the largest exhibitions AIE had ever held.
Executive Director Sara Bogosian visited the U.S. Embassy in Madrid under invitation by Ambassador James Costos in 2016. Below are excerpts from her journey, originally published in The Lowell Sun on May 30, 2016.
I’ve traveled to Spain numerous times, but who would think I’d be returning because of my work at the Whistler House Museum of Art, representing Lowell? Recently, I was the guest of the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, James Costos, born to Greek parents from the Highlands of Lowell. Located in the heart of Madrid, the embassy was built in the 1970s and is a modern, fortified edifice.
Entering the foyer of the official residence, I was surrounded by valuable works of art by artists such as [Roy] Lichtenstein, [John Singer] Sargent, [Robert] Rauschenberg, [Walton] Ford, [Josef] Albers, [Antonio] Saura, [Julian] Schnabel, Glenn Ligon and Juan Munoz.
In the U.S., when a diplomat takes possession of [their] official residence, [they have] the right to choose about 40 works of art from a common State Department fund known as the Art in Embassies program. In the case of Costos, he and his partner of 16 years, award-winning interior designer Michael Smith, have nearly 90 works, many obtained through their own personal connections.
The Whistler House [Museum of Art] became involved in the program, lending Costos six of our valued Whistler etchings which beautifully grace his embassy office.
“In my office, I have a number of etchings by Whistler, a painter born in the same town as I in Lowell, Massachusetts, that every morning reminds me that I come from a very humble family (Greek), and now I’ve become Ambassador of the United States. You never know how your future will be written,” states Costos.
The official dog of the residence is Greco, named after the famous Spanish artist El Greco. Confident yet calm, Greco was rescued at a dog shelter in Galicia, along with a darling dark curly-haired dog they named Whistler. The Ambassador was a frequent visitor to the Whistler House as a child and [James McNeill] Whistler has made a lasting impression to this day. He showed great interest in the artist, which was evident by all of the books he had on display in his private suite, residence, and office.
Costos met with me several times throughout my visit, to chat and show me around the embassy. He’s so proud of what he has accomplished, and rightfully so. A graduate of UMass Lowell, Lowell High and the Greater Lowell Regional Technical High School, he was most interested in hearing all about Lowell and the many friends (who call him “Jimmy”) who we had in common.
I gave him the gifts I had brought with me from Lowell — a Janet Lambert Moore painting of the Whistler House; the book Christmas in American Landmark Homes, featuring the Whistler House; a variety of chocolates from Mrs. Nelson’s candy shop in Chelmsford; and a few other Whistler trinkets.
It was a delightful trip, a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish and never forget. The Ambassador plans to visit after his ambassadorship in Spain [has completed, but in] the meantime, he will continue to build our relationships with Spain and other foreign countries throughout the world.
Your membership helps to support our many programs and events. Members enjoy free admission to the
Historic House and Parker Gallery, invitation to Whistler House events, and special member ticket prices.
© 2025 Whistler House Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.
Website by Tomo360.
