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Works People Art
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal One program supported artists during the Great Depression (1929–1939) through commissions, competitions, and relief efforts. It encouraged artists to depict both the struggles and hopes of American life, offering inspiration to a nation in crisis.
One initiative under the Federal One umbrella was the Federal Art Project (FAP), which employed visual artists based on financial need. The FAP provided weekly wages, art supplies, and exhibition opportunities. Submitted artworks were distributed to schools, libraries, and public buildings across the country. At its height, the program employed more than 5,000 artists in a wide range of projects nationwide. The WPA/FAP operated from 1935 to 1942. This exhibition explores the themes of work, people, and artistic innovation, highlighting how artists of the era captured the spirit of American life during the Great Depression.
Work People Art is curated by the Illinois State Museum. The works presented are a fraction of the nearly 400 artworks in the museum’s collection of New Deal era artworks.