U.S. State Department to sell painting removed from Dominican Republic embassy

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The U.S. State Department initiated efforts to sell the painting 'Young Artists After Siamesas 1960' by Kehinde Wiley, which was removed from the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic. U.S. Ambassador Leah Campos and Art in Embassies director Erin Scavino oversaw the removal, citing the work as 'woke' and 'aesthetically terrifying' while expressing a desire to replace it with imagery reflecting 'American patriotism.' The painting, commissioned in 2013 and created in 2015, remains subject to legal review regarding its sale and adherence to Dominican intellectual property and anti-money laundering laws.

Consequences

If the sale proceeds, the transaction will be subject to Dominican laws that entitle the artist to at least 2% of the sale price as a resale right. Additionally, the buyer will be required to provide verifiable proof of the transaction for any sale exceeding approximately $12,000 due to local anti-money laundering regulations.

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