Mexican Artists' Influence on WPA Explored in Blanton Exhibition

The University of Texas at Austin's Blanton Museum of Art is hosting "Art in Every Corner: The Works Progress Administration (1935-1943)," an exhibition curated by Sarah Bane and Anna Smith, featuring WPA-era pieces from its collection. Running until September 27, 2026, the exhibit emphasizes the profound impact of Mexican artists and muralist traditions on American art during the Great Depression. Notable artists showcased include Charles Frederick Ramus, Elizabeth Olds, Reuben Kadish, and Rufino Tamayo, whose works reflect cultural exchanges. Ramus’s lithograph "Scrap for War" (1939) captures industrial warfare anxiety, while Olds’s "Steel Mills" (1938) depicts the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Mill. Kadish’s "Indian Myths and Legends" (1937-1941) delves into Indigenous stories, and Tamayo’s "Shower" (1936) highlights his brief involvement with the WPA, illustrating the central role of Mexican artists in expanding WPA visual culture.