Biography
Mitchell Siporin (1910–1976) was an American painter and muralist whose work for the WPA Federal Art Project and the Treasury Section of Fine Arts made him one of the most respected public artists of the New Deal era. Known for his strong compositions, social awareness, and narrative clarity, Siporin brought a modern, humanistic voice to federal mural commissions.
His most significant Missouri contribution is the monumental seven‑panel mural cycle created for the St. Louis Post Office in 1941, executed in collaboration with fellow artist Edward Millman. This cycle is one of the largest and most ambitious New Deal mural projects in the Midwest.
Missouri Works
Under the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, Siporin and Millman completed a major mural cycle for the St. Louis Post Office. The seven panels depict Missouri’s history from frontier settlement to early statehood:
- “The Territory of Missouri” (1941)
- “The Struggle for Statehood” (1941)
- “Pre Civil War Missouri” (1941)
- “Early Commerce and Trade” (1941)
- “The River” (1941)
- “The Frontier” (1941)
- “The Pioneer” (1941)
Together, these murals form one of the most comprehensive visual narratives of Missouri’s early history produced during the New Deal era. Siporin’s ability to combine historical storytelling with dynamic composition makes this cycle a cornerstone of Missouri’s public art heritage.
Illinois Works
Before completing his Missouri mural cycle, Siporin produced significant New Deal works in Illinois under both the WPA Federal Art Project and the Treasury Section of Fine Arts:
- “Teaching of the Arts” — Lane Tech High School, Chicago (1938), four fresco panels, WPA‑FAP.
- “The Fusion of Agriculture and Industry” (Butchering & Mining) — Decatur Post Office, Illinois (1938).
- “The Fusion of Agriculture and Industry” (Pioneers) — Decatur Post Office, Illinois (1938).
- “The Fusion of Agriculture and Industry” (Steel) — Decatur Post Office, Illinois (1938).
These Illinois works established Siporin’s reputation as a leading social realist muralist and directly informed the narrative style he later brought to Missouri.
New Deal Program Involvement
Siporin worked under both the WPA Federal Art Project and the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. His murals emphasized:
- social realism
- labor and community
- narrative clarity
- public accessibility
His Missouri mural cycle stands as one of the finest examples of New Deal muralism in the state and reflects the Section’s commitment to craftsmanship and civic storytelling.