Biden Reverses Trump Administration’s Artwork Rules For Federal Buildings

US President Joe Biden has reversed restrictions by the Donald Trump Administration on the type of art that could be displayed in federal buildings. 

Trump’s rule, which took effect in July 2020, mandated that art pieces commissioned by federal buildings should only depict the country’s prominent historical figures, events, or “illustrate ideals upon which our nation was founded.” 

In addition to the limit on the kinds of images that could be portrayed, the order required that the works be a “lifelike or realistic representation of that person, not an abstract or modernist representation.” 

According to ARTnews, these regulations resulted in many of the artists in the Art in Architecture program—which commissions artwork for federal spaces—being excluded from producing work. 

Now, the General Services Administration, under President Biden, has rolled back the numerous restrictions on both the subject matter and the art style of future works.

“GSA’s public art collection is a national treasure, and this rule reflects the government’s important role in ensuring equity and opportunity for artists of all kinds and from all communities,” said Robin Carnahan, the agency’s administrator. 

“Public art is for the people and we want to make sure our public spaces reflect the rich diversity and creativity that strengthens and inspires them,” she added.

As per The Art Newspaper, this new ruling comes a year after President Biden removed all of the Trump Administration’s appointees to the US Commission of Fine Arts. 

Additionally, the previous administration had ruled that all new federal buildings had to adhere to a neoclassical architectural style, which has since been rolled back as well. 

[via ARTnews and The Art Newspaper, cover image via Rosana Scapinello | Dreamstime.com]