One of those artists is alumnus Jeffrey Koons ’76 (general fine arts), who is known for his unique blend of conceptual art with popular culture. Koons, who collaborated with Art in Embassies at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as part of an exchange program, was one of five artists awarded the U.S. Department of State’s first ever Medal of Arts for their outstanding commitment to international cultural exchange through the Art in Embassies program.