The Onera Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic American architecture, has opened a physical venue in New Canaan, Connecticut. Its inaugural exhibition, "Treaties on De-Fences" (through March 2026), features sculptures and prints by Spanish American artist Jorge Otero-Pailos, inspired by his preservation work on the Eero Saarinen-designed US Embassy in Oslo. The foundation, founded by David B. Peterson, acquired the landmark 1836 Greek Revival building in 2018 and restored it for exhibitions and public programs.
This matters because the Onera Foundation fills a gap in the cultural landscape by creating a rare physical space solely focused on historic architecture and preservation advocacy. By spotlighting mid-century diplomatic architecture through Otero-Pailos's innovative preservation-as-art practice, the foundation elevates the conversation around what deserves to be saved, challenging narrow legal definitions of historical significance. It also connects architectural heritage with contemporary art, offering a model for how foundations can engage the public with built history.