Sebastien Courty’s “American Totem” and “Japanese Totem,” featured in the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, examine the natural resources, industries, and cultural traditions of each nation. Art in Embassies curates artworks for U.S. diplomatic spaces worldwide, using visual art to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Commissioned by the District of Columbia Department of General Services Percent for Art Program, Cultural Gateway is a series of 16 panels installed at Dorothy I. Height Elementary School in Washington, D.C. The program allocates a portion of public construction funds to public art, enriching community spaces.

Working with designer Paola Zamudio of NPZ Studio+, Courty created “The Fabric of Bell,” a handwoven installation in Bell Works’ central atrium. Once the Bell Labs headquarters, the site was transformed from a historic research campus into a mixed-use “metroburb.” For the installation, Courty used recycled cables salvaged during this change.

Commissioned by UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, Courty’s United Women portrait series honors women as agents of change across cultural, social, and political spheres. Using 24K gold threads, cotton, and gemstones, the portraits reflect the strength and resilience of women from diverse backgrounds.

Shortlisted for the 2022 CODAworx People’s Choice Award, Courty’s design studio was recognized for his textile installation, “Saudi Unity,” located at the U.S. Consulate in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The work comprises 13 handwoven totems, each representing a distinct region of the country.

Commissioned by Jonathan Schultz in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sebastien Courty’s “Gold Shirt” is a tribute to anti-apartheid activist and first president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Handwoven with 24K gold and silver threads, the piece honors Mandela’s legacy and iconic style.