The Embassy of the United States in Ottawa and the U.S. Department of State's Office of Art in Embassies, in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada, will welcome renowned American artist Kiki Smith as the first speaker in the 2016 edition of the Contemporary Conversations series on March 31 at the Gallery. Contemporary Conversations (#artconvoAIE) invites iconic American artists to Ottawa for discussions on topics that transcend national borders, inspire critical thinking, and connect people across cultures.