The city of Chicago, Illinois, is renowned for its diverse collection of public artwork, which features statues, sculptures, and numerous painted wall murals. Interestingly, the creation of a large portion of these Chicago murals took place during the period of the Great Depression—an economic downturn in the 1930s characterized by high unemployment rates where about a quarter of the country's workforce lacked jobs by 1932. This development occurred because President Franklin Roosevelt formulated a comprehensive legislative initiative known as the "New Deal" in 1933 to address the crisis, with its primary objective being job creation. Consequently, the federal government emerged as a leading financial supporter of public art. Established in 1935, the Federal Art Project (FAP) operated as one of its major programs and stands as the largest initiative of its kind ever attempted. Spanning from 1935 through 1943, the FAP sponsored various projects across disciplines such as fine art, theater, music, and writing, engaging roughly 5,000 nationwide artists who collectively produced hundreds of thousands of paintings, sculptures, and murals.
Operating locally in Chicago, the Illinois division of the FAP hired hundreds of qualified yet jobless artists alongside numerous assistants to paint and decorate public structures. These muralists received instructions to center their work on American themes, connect with ordinary citizens, and portray optimism about the future. Most artists utilized a naturalistic approach rather than heavy abstraction. Out of approximately 200 murals originally created across greater Chicago, about two-thirds have managed to survive over time, with some having been painted over and slated for restoration.
Furthermore, Chicago's mural movement actually began a year prior to the launch of the FAP. In 1934, the United States Treasury Department established a decoration program for newly constructed federal buildings, particularly post offices. This program drew financial support from a small percentage of the total construction budget and selected participating artists through anonymous competitions. Modern government entities continue supporting public art for new spaces through "Percent for Art" initiatives. For instance, a program established by the city of Chicago in 1978—now designated as the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program—is responsible for placing over 400 distinct works of art across local public facilities such as police stations, firehouses, libraries, and health and transportation centers.