Two pieces of New Deal era art were recently located in Oregon and Texas and reclaimed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
A Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) commissioned bronze sculpture of Hopkins Jenkin was found in basement storage at a Portland area school along with several other pieces of art commissioned by the Works Progress Administration or PWAP. Until recently, the bronze sculpture could not be confirmed as New Deal era government-owned artwork. GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agents obtained a 1934 Portland Art Association PWAP catalog from an art enthusiast in Portland, listing the sculpture as an item in a 1934 exhibit. Based on this discovery, GSA’s Fine Art Program added the sculpture to its New Deal era art inventory. The sculpture is now on loan to Portland Public Schools along with other art OIG special agents located last year.
The PWAP commissioned painting “Nueces River” by Jessie Davis was recovered after the painting had been put up for auction in Dallas, Texas. Once the auction house learned that the painting was New Deal era government property, it cancelled the auction. Subsequently, the painting was released and returned to GSA.
More information about New Deal era artwork recovery efforts can be found on GSA OIG’s website here and on GSA’s website here.
Bronze sculpture of Hopkins Jenkin and "Neuces River" painting
