Founding Collection: WPA Art
August 22, 2026 - January 16, 2027
The earliest years of the University of Wyoming Art Museum were shaped not only by
individual collectors and artists but also by one of the most ambitious public investments
in American culture. During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration’s
Federal Art Project employed thousands of artists across the United States, recognizing
that creative work was essential to the nation’s civic and cultural life. Between
1935 and 1943, artists produced murals, sculptures, prints, paintings, and photographs
that documented everyday American life and made art more accessible to the public.
Many of these works entered the University of Wyoming Art Department’s teaching collection
in 1968, before the Art Museum was established in 1972. They became part of the museum’s
founding collection, providing students with original works by artists who helped
define American modernism while reflecting the social, industrial, and rural landscapes
of the era. The collection includes prints, drawings, and paintings by both well-known
and lesser-known artists, preserving a remarkable cross-section of American artistic
production during a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
The Works Progress Administration recognized art as a public good, meant to serve
communities long after the work itself was made. Today, this collection embodies the
enduring power of collective investment in the arts — a reminder that museum collections
are shaped not only by individual generosity, but by shared commitments to education,
accessibility, and cultural stewardship. These works remain part of the museum's teaching
legacy and are a lasting demonstration of what public investment in the arts can achieve.
