The Early 1950s

With the Advancing American Art debacle still fresh and distinctive styles of art being executed by American and Soviet artists, art diplomacy advocates entered the 1950s with a great deal of initiative, but no agency to carry it out. The U.S. government was unwilling, even at times opposed to, conducting art diplomacy associated with modern art. If there was going to be any modern American art sent abroad, a private institution would have to organize it.