• Canoga Park High School: Melcher Painting - Canoga Park CA
    In 1939, artist George Henry Melcher completed an oil on canvas painting titled "Across the Lagoon, Malibu" for Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, CA. Located in the school's Board Room, the painting depicts an ocean lagoon, with small green islets scattered in the bay. It is framed in a wood frame measuring 36-1/2 x 30-1/4 inches. A label on the back reads: "Federal Art Project, FAP #8864, 'Across the Lagoon, Malibu', Artist: Geo. H. Melcher, BCVD 8/14/39 24 x 30".
  • Historical Museum Paintings - El Monte CA
    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.    
  • Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School: Jeakins Painting - Los Angeles CA
    In 1936, artist Dorothy Jeakins completed an oil on canvas painting titled "White Pitcher" for Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School (formerly Mount Vernon Junior High School) in Los Angeles, CA. Located in the principal's office, the painting—a still life—depicts a white pitcher and green apples scattered on a table covered with a red cloth. It is framed in a gilded frame and the back is inscribed “Mt. Vernon JHS Student Body" with a partial Federal Art Project (FAP) label #6083 dated “10-7-36” affixed to the verso stretcher bar. A student of Stanton Macdonald-Wright, director of the Southern California division of the...
  • Jordan High School: Gellert Portrait – Los Angeles CA
    Artist Emery Gellert painted a portrait of Principal J. A. Davis for David Starr Jordan High School (formerly David Starr Jordan High School) in Los Angeles, CA. The portrait was funded by California's State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA), which covered the cost of artwork executed between the termination of the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) in 1934 and the establishment of the Works Progress Administration's Federal Arts Project (FAP) the following year. "Under this project sixty people were producing one hundred twenty hours per month mostly to producing easel works in oil, water color, pastel, and drawings. The funds ran...
  • Museum of the Shenandoah Valley: Fletcher Painting – Winchester VA  
    According to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Anne Fletcher’s WPA oil painting, “Iris Garden,” was completed in 1939 and placed in the Home Economics Center (or, “Home Economics Cottage”) in Berryville, Virginia.  This building appears to have been part of, or had some relation to Berryville High School.  In 1970, the high school was set for demolition and nearby schools were permitted to take things from the abandoned building that would benefit their own schools.  A principal and two students from Boyce Elementary School took up the offer and transported some items from the high school to their own. ...
  • National Gallery of Art: Collections - Washington DC
    The National Gallery of Art on the mall is one of America's greatest art museums.  It holds thousands of New Deal artworks in its vast collections, much of it available in digital form and occasional shown in exhibits.    By far the largest New Deal collection at the National Gallery is the Federal Art Project's (FAP) Index of American Design, containing over 18,000 artistic renderings (chiefly watercolors) of historic and contemporary American arts and crafts: textiles, furniture, toys, decorative arts, industrial products, and so on. The FAP was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942.  This collection was part of...
  • Polytechnic High School Painting - Long Beach CA
    An unknown WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) artist—possibly Eugene Broachs—created a 5' by 6' painting for Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, CA. Painted in 1939, the work "is made of two textured canvases hanging in a wooden frame above the main entrance hallway. The work depicts ten students either engaged in various activities or holding objects representing scholastic activities such as the arts, sports, reading etc. The brushstrokes have a sketchy drawing-like appearance" (LBUSD WPA Artwork Collections Assessment Guidelines Survey, p. 21).
  • Recorder of Deeds Building: Portraits - Washington DC
    In 1936, three WPA artists—Henry Wadsworth Moore, Velma Buckner, and Alan Flavelle—painted portraits of 11 former Washington, DC Recorders of Deeds, for placement in the Recorders’ office space at 412 D Street NW.  When the new Recorder of Deeds Building was constructed in 1941-1943, at 515 D Street NW (and funded by the New Deal’s Public Works Administration), the portraits were moved there. The current location(s) of these portraits is unknown to the Living New Deal, but they could still be in the 515 D Street NW building (the building has been closed to the public for many years, after the...
  • Robert E. Peary Middle School: Kende Painting - Gardena CA
    In 1936, artist Geza Kende completed an oil on canvas painting titled "Melon Field" for Robert E. Peary Middle School (formerly Gardena High School) in Gardena, CA. Located in Stephan Hall, the painting depicts a farmhouse behind rows of growing melons, with mountains in the distance. Two labels are affixed to the reverse: a label indicating that the painting had been renovated by Rash Gallery; and a label with the artist's name, title, numbered: “#13,” and inscribed: “Federal Art Project.” Stamped on the reverse of the stretcher: “Duncan Vail Co., 730 South Hill St., Los Angeles.” Kende was a Hungarian-born portrait and...
  • Robert E. Peary Middle School: Van Halle Painting - Gardena CA
    In 1939, artist Francis J. Van Halle completed an oil on canvas painting titled "Chrysanthemums" for Robert E. Peary Middle School (formerly Gardena High School) in Gardena, CA. Located in Stephan Hall, the painting depicts a vase of chrysanthemums on a stone ledge against a brown background. It is framed in a painted and gilt frame measuring 37.25 x 23.5 inches. A partial paper label is affixed to the reverse with artist’s name, title, numbered “#44” and inscribed “Federal Art Proj.”
  • Robert E. Peary Middle School: Yeckley Painting - Gardena CA
    In 1935, artist Norman Yeckley completed an oil on canvas painting titled "Deserted Rancho Landscape" for Robert E. Peary Middle School (formerly Gardena High School) in Gardena, CA. Located in Stephan Hall, the painting depicts a ramshackle adobe building in front of purple mountains. Affixed to the reverse are a label indicating that the painting was renovated by Rash Gallery and an artist’s label with the artist’s name, title and inscribed: “Reed. 7-12-35/WPA Art Project.” It is framed in a gilded frame measuring 27.5 x 33 inches.
  • Robert E. Peary Middle School: Zornes Painting - Gardena CA
    In 1934, artist Milford Zornes completed a watercolor painting titled "The Bay" for Robert E. Peary Middle School (formerly Gardena High School) in Gardena, CA. Located in Room 18, the painting painting depicts a large tree overlooking blue water. The title is written in the lower left corner. It is framed under glazing in a wood frame with a small brass plate that reads "Public Works of Art Project." Zornes was an Oklahoma-born watercolorist for whom Western landscapes were a favorite subject. He also did a New Deal mural for the post office in Claremont, CA.
  • Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle School: Reiffel Painting - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
    In 1937, artist Charles Reiffel completed an oil painting titled "Across the Bay" for Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle School (formerly Dodson Junior High School) in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Located in the administration office, the painting depicts a view of (possibly) San Diego harbor with Mt. Soledad in the distance. It is framed in a bleached wood frame measuring 48 x 36 inches. A small brass plate affixed to the frame reads: "Federal Art Project."
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum: Collections - Washington DC
    The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds hundreds of works from the New Deal’s art programs:  Public Works of Art Project, Section of Fine Arts, Treasury Relief Art Project, and Federal Art Project. These artworks are mostly in storage, but at any time there may be several New Deal paintings and sculptures on display in special exhibitions.   Much of the Smithsonian's New Deal collection can found found online, too.  This search generated 520 results: https://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?fq=data_source%3A%22Smithsonian+American+Art+Museum%22&q=federal+art+project&gfq=CSILP_1
  • Timberline Lodge: Paintings and Murals - Mt. Hood OR
    Timberline Lodge was built in 1936-38 as a ski lodge 6,000 feet up on Mount Hood, and it still serves that purpose.  It was equally a showcase for the accomplishments of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The four-story structure was built in Northwestern rustic style using large timbers and local stone, with a striking central "headhouse" built in a hexagon around a 90-foot stone chimney with large fireplaces on all sides. The interior is a marvel of decorative elements designed to feature Northwestern native and pioneer styles in wood carving, furniture, textiles, metal work, light fixtures, stone work and paintings. The interior decor...
  • U.S. Courthouse: Biberman Painting - Los Angeles CA
    This oil on canvas by Edward Biberman entitled "Los Angeles - Prehistoric and Spanish Colonial" (1938) was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts at the time of the building's construction. It was removed from the building when the post office moved out in 1965, but was restored in 2003. A second mural by Biberman, "Creative Man" is still in storage.
  • U.S. Courthouse: Labaudt Paintings - Los Angeles CA
    Lucien Labaudt painted two large-scale paintings for what was then the Los Angeles Post Office and Courthouse, "Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos" (1939), and "Aerodynamism" (1941). Both were removed when the post office moved out of the building in 1965, but were restored to the courthouse in 1993. "Aerodynamism" is a 256 square foot oil on canvas on the ceiling. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993. The 8' x 14' "Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos" is in the Spring Street lobby. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993. The informational plaque for the painting describes...