Art throughout the National Park Service
As part of its interpretive work, HFC often contracts with artists to create works to help visitors understand the many stories parks have to tell. A scene of the Revolutionary War in a visitor center film brings history closer. A painting in an exhibit gives context to the objects on display. Drawings of plants and animals in a brochure help visitors identify what they see in the park.
In HFC's media products, a single work may be used for several different projects for parks with related stories. Sometimes only a detail of an image --one person or an animal --is used to convey a specific idea. Paintings, drawings, and even computer-generated art add to the quality of people's experiences in parks. Where will you find art on your National Park Service visit?
The collection contains more than 11,000 pieces of art purchased by Harpers Ferry Center or produced by HFC staff for park brochures, exhibits, films, posters, publications, and other projects. Some of the artists represents include Leonard Baskin, Heinrich Berann, Alan E. Cober, Mark English, Louis S. Glanzman, Charley Harper, Jay Matternes, Jerry Pinkney, Keith Rocco, Richard Schlecht, Robert Hynes, and Don Troiani.
Most of the art collection is accessible to NPS staff through an online, searchable database. Thank you for your patience while we transition the Harpers Ferry Center Commissioned Art Collection website to NPGallery. For assistance in the interim please email the collections manager.
HFC often acquires one-time or limited use rights for pieces of artwork. Only material in the public domain is available for use by the public.
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Last updated: June 23, 2020