Federal Arts Project (FAP) Sites

Florian Durzynski completed this two-panel oil-on-canvas mural, entitled "Westward Movement," with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project (WPA-FAP). It is viewable in the auditorium of Greenman Elementary School.  

Anton Refregier's first mural assignment under the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project (WPA-FAP) in the 1930s was to paint a mural for the children's ward at Greenpoint Hospital in Brooklyn. Joining the WPA rolls allowed him to get off relief. He was paid $23.86 a week and was assisted by five other WPA artists. In an interview conducted for the Archives of American Art Refregier stresses that although he was assigned to be the leader of the mural project, the group decided to undertake the project cooperatively which was more in line with their values. In an interview for...

This 1935 mural by James Daugherty entitled "The Life and Times of General Israel Putnam" was funded by the WPA's Federal Arts Project. The mural is 9 x 22 feet. It was originally painted for the Greenwich Town Hall but moved to the Hamilton Avenue School in 1940. In 1998, the mural was removed from the school and restored. It now hangs in the Greenwich Public Library. "At a time when Americans needed heroes to promote patriotic feelings eroded by the Depression, an authentic folk hero presented a superlative mural subject. Putnam's legendary exploits and courageous actions presented Daugherty with the opportunity...

From 1939 to 1940 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) made improvements and built additions to Gresham High School in Gresham, Oregon, just east of Portland. The additions included a gym, an agricultural building, the north wing of the classrooms, and an auditorium. Michael Schaefer, Gresham High School Principal, estimates that, at the time, 80% of the school was rebuilt with funding provided by the WPA. The primary architectural style of the high school is Art Deco. Teresa Carson of the local Gresham press tells us that "The building originally had hand-crafted doors created by highly-regarded WPA blacksmith Orion B. Dawson, who also created gates at WPA-built Timberline...

Grevillea park is graced by an gargantuan mosaic mural, called "History of Transportation."  This extraordinary mural is 8 feet high and 240 feet long, composed of 60 panels. It is made of cast concrete and terrazzo paneled walls.  It is the largest petrachrome mural in the world and one of the last examples of petrachrome mosaic art (that is, made up of tiny stones). The mural was created by artist Helen Lundeberg with the support of the New Deal Federal Art Project in 1939-42.  (The FAP was part of the Works Progress Administration, or WPA). Originally installed in the nearby Centinela Park,...

Federal Art Project artist Uno John Palokangas (known as John Palo-Kangas) sculpted "Spirit of the CCC" (1935) for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) WWI Veterans Camp located at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA. Also known as "Iron Mike," the 10-foot Art Deco sculpture depicts a young man stripped to the waist and holding a shovel. World War I veteran Robert J. Pauley of Carmichael, CA, was the artist's model. Palo-Kangas told a reporter that the work would be called "Conservation of Man and Nature." President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the sculpture on October 1, 1935. During his visit to Los Angeles,...

This oil on canvas mural "Early Farmers" by Karl Kelpe, and a companion piece ("Pioneers"), were originally in the main entrance of the old Julian School building. They were painted in 1936 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. Size: 16'11" x 8'

This oil on canvas mural, entitled "Child and Sports--Summer" was painted by Ethel Spears in 1937. It is a companion piece to "Child and Sports--Winter" at the Percy Julian Middle School. Both murals were originally installed at the Lowell School. It measures 16'10" by 6'2".

In 1937, with Federal Art Project (FAP) funding, Charles Hulbert Davis painted a mural, "Drake's Landing in California – 1579," at the Hall of Records in Los Angeles, CA. Davis' mural was located in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, alongside FAP murals by Lorser Feitelson, Helen Lundeberg, and Buckley MacGurrin (see linked projects). The Hall of Records, built in 1911, was demolished after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The status of all five murals is unknown.

In 1937, with Federal Art Project (FAP) funding, Lorser Feitelson painted an oil-on-canvas mural for the Hall of Records in Los Angeles, CA. Feitelson's mural was located in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, alongside FAP murals by Charles H. Davis, Helen Lundeberg, and Buckley MacGurrin (see linked projects). The Hall of Records, built in 1911, was demolished after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The status of all five murals is unknown. Feitelson was the FAP's supervisor of murals in Southern California from 1937 to 1943. His other FAP works in the region include a mural at Thomas Alva Edison Middle School in...

In 1937, with Federal Art Project (FAP) funding, Helen Lundeberg painted an oil-on-canvas mural for the Hall of Records in Los Angeles, CA. Lundeberg's mural was located in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, alongside FAP murals by Charles H. Davis, Lorser Feitelson, and Buckley MacGurrin (see linked projects). The Hall of Records, built in 1911, was demolished after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The status of all five murals is unknown. Lundeberg's other FAP works in the region include a pair of murals, "Quests of Mankind" (1940), at Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, CA; a pair of murals, "History of...

In 1937, with Federal Art Project (FAP) funding, Buckley MacGurrin painted two oil-on-canvas murals for the Hall of Records in Los Angeles, CA. MacGurrin's murals were located in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, alongside FAP murals by Charles H. Davis, Lorser Feitelson, and Helen Lundeberg (see linked projects). The Hall of Records, built in 1911, was demolished after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The status of all five murals is unknown. MacGurrin's other FAP works include petrachrome murals, “Santa Paula” and “Youth," at Santa Paula High School in Santa Paula, CA.

Harlem Hospital murals include two 1940 pieces by Charles Alston, "Magic in Medicine" and "Modern Medicine", painted under the auspices of the Federal Arts Project of the WPA in 1936.  As the New York Times notes, "Harlem Hospital’s were perhaps the first major federal government commissions awarded to African-Americans." "Charles Alston's Magic in Medicine is situated opposite his Modern Medicine, offering contrast and dialogue between traditional and modern healing practices. The diptych imagines the history of healing and medicine in Africa and the United States. The sepia-toned Magic in Medicine incorporates a Fang reliquary sculpture, a type of ritual art piece from Gabon that was widely collected by...

An eight panel mural by African America artist Vertis C. Hayes, entitled "Pursuit of Happiness," was commissioned for Harlem Hospital Center with funding from the WPA's Federal Arts Project. The mural, which was completed 1937,  "...traces the African diaspora from 18th-century African village life to slavery in America to 20th-century freedom; from agrarian struggles in the South to professional success in the industrialized North." (New York Times). As the New York Times notes, "Harlem Hospital’s were perhaps the first major federal government commissions awarded to African-Americans." This and the other murals, originally in the old hospital and visible only to staff, have been restored for over...

In 1937 Elba Lightfoot completed this mural, entitled "Toy Parade," for the Harlem Hospital Center with funding from the WPA's Federal Arts Program. It was one the first major federal commissions to be awarded to African-Americans. The hospital initially rejected the commission for depicting too much African-American subject matter. The hospital commissioner reversed this decision, however, after public controversy was aroused by protest from the artists and their supporters (New York Times).

Below is a photograph that shows Georgette Seabrooke at work on her mural entitled "Recreation in Harlem" for the nurses' recreation room at Harlem Hospital Center. She made the mural with funding from the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (WPA/FAP). The WPA commissioned the mural in 1936.  The New York Times notes that, "Harlem Hospital’s were perhaps the first major federal government commissions awarded to African-Americans." “'Recreation in Harlem' depicts children roughhousing, a couple dancing, a group of women chatting." It was rediscovered during hospital renovation in 2004. This and the other murals, originally in the old hospital and visible only to staff, have been restored for over $4...

A 2016 article celebrating Black History Month highlighted this unique and little known WPA mural by artist Aaron Douglas: "The Harlem Branch of the Y.M.C.A., which is located at at 180 West 135th Street, contains an exquisite example (though in need of a thorough restoration) of a rare African-American contribution to the Works Progress Administration (WPA)... While much of the building has been renovated over the years, some of the Y.M.C.A.’s original artwork by Alfred Floegel and noted African-American artists William E. Scott and Aaron Douglas remain. One of the murals was designed by Aaron Douglas, an African-American painter and illustrator whose works appear in...

Gustaf Dahlstrom painted two 9' x 26' murals for the Laurel School: "Gardening" and "Animals and Flowers." They were completed with WPA Federal Art Project funds in 1938. They were moved to the Harper School from the Laurel School in 1973.

A ten foot long, 16 ton, polished black Diorite panther sculpture, nicknamed "Oscar." It was created by Raymond Puccinelli with support from the WPA Federal Art Project.

This 12'  x 9'11" mural "Harvesting of Grain: Spring and Fall" in Chicago's John Harvard school was painted by Florian Durzynski with WPA Federal Art Project funds in 1939 and restored in 2002. The "Fall" part of this mural set was destroyed. The lunette that was above it, and the lunette about "Spring," survive.

Harvey Government Center is home to two examples of Federal Art Project-sponsored bas reliefs. They are located in the council chambers room on the second floor of the building. "New Deal art was also installed in the Florida Keys. The two primary sculptors were Joan van Breeman and Lambert Bemelman. One of Bemelman's pieces is still extant at the Hurricane Memorial at Mile Marker 81.5. Van Breeman created a number of bas relief sculptures for public schools built by the WPA in the Upper Keys (to replace public schools destroyed by hurricanes). One of van Breeman's work now is on display...

This site originally displayed four oil on canvas murals, entitled "American Characters," painted by Mildred Waltrip in 1938 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. Two of the murals were removed in 1995 and placed in storage after a debate over controversial depictions of African-Americans and American Indians. From the Chicago Tribune story on the controversy: Two 1936 murals at an Oak Park elementary school touched off a 90-minute debate at a school board meeting this week, with some parents and educators demanding the murals be removed, while others argued to keep them as a caution against racial stereotyping. Several...

These carvings, each about 2' in diameter, depict "Immigrant Children" and were completed by Louise Pain with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds.

This mural by Rainey Bennett was produced with FAP funds.

This 6'6" x 30' mural was completed with FAP funds in 1936.

Four limestone sculptures depicting "Children" by Mary Andersen were produced with FAP funds in 1938.

In 1938 William Karp completed the mural entitled "Armed with Learning and Reality, Looking from the Past to the Future" for the Hebrew Orphan Asylum on Amsterdam Avenue between 136 and 138th Street in New York City. The Hebrew Orphan Asylum closed in 1941, and the building was demolished in the mid 1950s. The Living New Deal needs further information to determine the current status of William Karp's WPA mural for the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. William Karp worked as a master mural artist and administrator with the WPA Federal Art Project. Also included are images of Karp with friends at his home in...

The column of the Henry Hudson Memorial in Henry Hudson Park was created in 1909, but the bronze sculpture by Karl Bitter intended for the top of the column was never added. This was rectified in the 1930s.  In 1937, the Department of Parks reported that: "Park Commissioner Robert Moses, sole member of the Henry Hudson Parkway Authority, announces that the Authority will furnish the statue and he has retained Karl H. Gruppe, who for years was associated with Mr. Bitter, to undertake the reproduction of the original design. Fortunately, the sculptor's widow, who resides at 209 East 72nd Street, has...

After a design by Edgar Taylor, craftspeople Mary Henry, Norval Gill, and Robert Spray completed this mural, entitled "Medieval Scene," in 1938 with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. It is in the main stairwell of the Historic Hoover building in Herbert Hoover Middle School.

Several artists collaborated to create this beautiful stained glass window for Herbert Hoover Middle School. A description (pictured below) of the window by participating artist Norval L. Gill includes the following: "Mary Dill Henry, Robert E. Spray and Norval L. Gill were among the half-dozen artists and craftsmen who produced this stained glass window in 1937-1938 at the Federal Arts Project in Oakland...Edgar D. Taylor was the designer of the window. It depicts a medieval scene in which a manuscript is presented to a king and queen... This stained glass window was fabricated in the traditional way with the various pieces of...

In 1938, through the Works Progress Administration (WPA)—presumably by way of its Federal Arts Project (FAP), the mess hall and gymnasium of the now-former Heslar Naval Armory in Indianapolis "were decorated with 12-by-15-foot (3.7 by 4.6 m) murals depicting famous naval battles and events."

The Works Progress Administration's (WPA's) Federal Art Project commissioned a set of five murals for the auditorium of what was then known as Hicksville Junior-Senior High School (now Hicksville Middle School), on Jerusalem Ave. WPAMurals.com: "These murals were done by Joseph Allen Physioc, and are titled “Man Beating Gold” (missing),”Cantiague Rock,” “Early Hicksville,” “Farm Field,” and “Curtis Airfield.” They are oil on canvas. Three of them measure approx. 8′ x 7′ and 2 of the murals are arched in shape and measure approx. 11′ x 7′."

Currently a community center, what was previously known as Claymont Middle School, Claymont High School, Claymont School (in that order, going backwards) houses an example of New Deal artwork: a pair of Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals by Walter Pyle, Jr. The works were installed in the school around 1935 with the aim of inspiring people who were suffering through the Great Depression. The murals were restored in 2013-2014. According to the project's original contributor, the works are "located upstairs in the Executive Offices (or at least they were when I worked there in 2005) in a back stairway that no one...

Artist James Michael Newell painted this large multi-panel mural with WPA Federal Arts Project funding in 1938. The murals depict the "Evolution of Western Civilization." The murals begin with "primitive man building his society" and end with scenes from 1930s America. "When it was completed, Newell’s progressive mural was well received. It won top honors in the Architectural League’s fiftieth annual exhibition in 1936 and it was included in the Museum of Modern Art’s “New Horizons of American Art” show featuring art commissioned under the Federal Art Project.  By the late 1960s, however, in the crucible of the civil rights movement,...

In 1937, artist R. W. Taylor painted eleven panels depicting "Scenes of Indian Life" for the El Monte Public Library (today's El Monte Historical Museum). He received funding from the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP). Six of the paintings survive in the Historical Museum's Pioneer and Frontier Rooms.    

Dorr Bothwell painted this mural "Youth and Democracy" in 1938 with WPA Federal Art Project funding for the Hollenbeck Junior High School, also a New Deal project. From a 1965 oral history interview with Bothwell: MS. BOTHWELL: That was just a little thing. It was only two feet high, I think it was two feet high or two and a half feet high, and that ran two hundred and some odd feet. And we had all the costumes of the children of the world or all the costumes of the people of the world around the foyer of the theater. Above...

George Stanley created this large sculpture "Muse of Music, Dance, Drama" for the Hollywood Bowl in 1938-1940, with funding from the WPA. "The monument was constructed from 1938 to 1940, as part of the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP). It was the largest of hundreds of WPA sculpture projects created in Southern California. It was described at the time as "an engineering feat...the entire hillside of this famous shrine made into a monument, in which are eleven hundred and eighty-eight tons of concrete, the forms of which are delineated by slabs of the same granite to the amount of two...

This sculpture "Muse of Music, Dance, Drama" is actually a fountain, created by artist George Stanley. Medium: concrete and granite Size: 200' l x 22' h Restoration Info: Restored and re-landscaped in 2006. "The Streamline Moderne-style fountain was built in 1940 by the sculptor best known for creating the Academy Awards' Oscar statue. Standing over the bowl's Highland Avenue entryway, it depicts the muses of music, dance and drama. The 200-foot long, 22-foot high sculpture was heralded as one of America's most ambitious art projects in 1939 when artists and craftsmen hired by the federal government for the Depression-era WPA Federal Arts Project began constructing...

In 1936, sculptor Merrell Gage created a frieze and free-standing pylon, titled "Honorable Achievements," for Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, CA. He received funding from the Federal Arts Project (FAP). The pylon is located beside the south entrance to the Science Building. It depicts "figures representing various school activities: a track man at the take-off, a halfback about to pass, a girl picking botanical specimens, a chemistry student at work, a co-ed, and a graduate in cap and gown. Its inscription reads 'Achieve the Honorable'" (Wells, p. 24). Gage, an instructor at the University of Southern California and at the Chouinard...

In 1938, artist Bartolo Mako created a bas-relief sculpture for Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, CA. The relief is located above the entrance to the liberal arts building, which was constructed with Public Works Administration (PWA) funding. Cast in concrete, the relief features historically important intellectuals—scientists, mathematicians, physicists, chemists, engineers, astronomers, and philosophers— including Euclid, Archemedes, Plato, Aristotle, (Luigi) Galviani, (Isaac) Newton, (Benjamin) Franklin, (Antoine) Lavoisier, (Leon) Foucault, and Galileo (Galilei). Mako was likely commissioned by the Federal Art Project (FAP), as sculptor Merrell Gage had been two years earlier to create a frieze and free-standing pylon for the south entrance...