Support Campaign to Save New Deal-Era Murals
Artists urge Jewish Museum to help preserve historic Cohen Building murals by Shahn, Guston, and other Jewish artists threatened with demolition.
Hundreds of artists and cultural workers have signed a letter urging the Jewish Museum in New York City to take a leading role in preserving the Wilbur J. Cohen Building in Washington, DC. The building, completed in 1940 as the Social Security Administration headquarters, houses significant New Deal-era murals by renowned Jewish artists including Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel, and sisters Ethel and Jenne Magafan. The Trump administration has listed the building for sale to private contractors, which activists fear will result in its demolition. The murals, many painted or carved directly into the structure, depict vulnerable populations who benefited from the Social Security Act and represent an important artistic and historical legacy. The letter was co-authored by prominent artists Elise Engler, Joyce Kozloff, and Martha Rosler and sent to Jewish Museum Director James Snyder and Board Chair Shari Aronson, both of whom expressed support. The building has been called the "Sistine Chapel of the New Deal" for its artistic significance. Artists can add their signatures to the campaign to demonstrate support for preservation efforts. The effort aims to counter historical erasure and encourage the arts community to speak out on behalf of artistic heritage and legacy.