Fine Arts Collection Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in GSA’s Fine Arts collection. In an effort to answer questions about the collection we’ve created this Frequently Asked Question page. If you have a question and don’t see it here, email fineartscollection@gsa.gov. 

Richard Serra’s Tilted Arc

Tilted Arc was a sculpture created by artist Richard Serra through a commission from the GSA Art in Architecture Program.  The aesthetics, context, and politics of this sculpture were passionately contested, and the artwork was eventually dismantled and put into storage.  Read about the events that led to the sculpture’s removal.

Why are so many artworks missing images?

The majority of the Fine Arts Collection consists of artworks created through the New Deal projects of the 1930s. From the start, the government intended these artworks be available to the public so they were placed on loan or allocated to public agencies and nonprofit institutions throughout the country. The artworks were noted on inventory lists, but were rarely photographed, nor did the loan and allocation agreements require agencies and institutions to supply photographs to the government.

Decades later as GSA identifies and inventories the thousands of artworks from that era, we are also photographing works that have not yet been loaned and are requesting that institutions provide us with any digital images they may have. Many have already graciously sent images; others that do not yet have photographs electronically available are planning to photograph the works as they digitize their collections. We appreciate the time and effort being made by the staffs of these institutions to make the artworks created with public funds available to a wider audience.

Whenever we receive images, they will be added to the website. This is a long-term project and we hope that you check back periodically to see the updates.