History

WPA Murals: The Foundation of Our Collection

At the heart of NYC Health + Hospitals’ esteemed art collection lies a series of New Deal-era murals, originally commissioned as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. These murals, created during a time of economic hardship and social upheaval, embody a legacy of resilience and hope, offering a visual representation of the aspirations of both artists and the communities they served.

The WPA murals are not only artistic masterpieces but also an enduring symbol of public art’s power to humanize and uplift. Commissioned for public spaces, NYC Health + Hospitals received dozens of them in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. These murals were intended to provide comfort, inspire reflection, and foster a sense of community in the face of adversity. Their presence within our health system marks the beginning of a tradition of integrating art into healthcare, setting the foundation for the diverse and vibrant collection that followed.

Featuring works by prominent artists such as Charles Alston, Vertis Hayes, Georgrette Seabrooke and Abram Champanier, the WPA murals remain an invaluable cultural resource, representing a crucial moment in American art history. Today, they continue to serve as a source of inspiration and grounding for the Arts in Medicine department, embodying the enduring intersection of art, public service, and social change.

A Legacy of Art in Healthcare

Building upon this foundation, NYC Health + Hospitals now stewards one of the largest and most significant non-museum public art collections in the country, comprising over 8,000 works that span nearly a century. From the WPA commissions, the collection grew through key initiatives such as the Percent for Art program, which has brought a diverse array of museum-quality artworks into clinical settings across the city. Featuring renowned artists such as Romare Bearden and Helen Frankenthaler, the collection reflects the cultural richness of New York City’s communities.

Today, under the direction of the Arts in Medicine department, the collection continues to thrive, integrating art with healing and public health. Through exhibitions, conservation efforts, and community-focused commissions, we are not only preserving this invaluable cultural heritage but also using art as a tool to enhance the healthcare experience for patients, families and staff.

Timeline of Arts & Medicine (1930 – 2025)

1930 – WPA (Works Progress Administration)

1970s – Health + Hospitals acquires <3,000 artworks

1980 – Health + Hospitals maintains one of the largest public art collections

1996 – Health + Hospitals art collection decentralized

2001 – Health + Hospitals became the first public agency to develop a digital database for art collection

2018 – Arts in Medicine created as permanent, centralized Quality & Safety division

2019 – The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund expands community outreach and programming. The Community Mural Project is established.

2021 – launch of the HHArt of Medicine program

2022-2023 – Scaled Arts in Medicine programming and collection initiatives; including launch of exhibition strategy; internship program and establishing a research and evaluation arm.

2024 – 2025 – Expanded civic engagement strategy to establish the Curating for Health platform, Social Prescribing Pilot, and WHO collaboration on the first ever Hospital Mural Evaluation Study.

Find us on Bloomberg Connects; download the free app below. Patients, staff, and the community can learn more about the history and content of the Arts in Medicine Collection and our Programs at NYC Health + Hospitals.