Biography
Martyl (Schweig) (1917–2013) was an American painter and muralist whose work for the Section of Fine Arts made her one of Missouri’s most important New Deal artists. Born in St. Louis, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and returned to Missouri to complete one of the state’s most striking federal murals.
Her later career brought national recognition, especially for her design of the Doomsday Clock for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — an icon of 20th‑century visual culture.
Missouri Works
“Storm” — St. Louis Weather Bureau Building (1940)
Commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts, this mural depicts meteorologists studying weather patterns as a
storm forms across the Midwest. The composition blends scientific observation with dramatic natural forces,
reflecting both the mission of the Weather Bureau and the expressive power of New Deal muralism.
“Storm” remains one of Missouri’s most important New Deal murals and a defining work of Martyl’s early career.
New Deal Program Involvement
Martyl worked under the Section of Fine Arts, completing federal commissions that emphasized clarity, craftsmanship, and public accessibility. Her Missouri mural stands as a testament to the role of women artists in the New Deal and to the strength of Missouri’s contribution to national public art.