Description

David Margolis was a Ukrainian-born American painting artist and muralist, best known for his large-scale public art during the New Deal era in the United States. Born in 1911 in Volochysk, Ukraine, he studied fine arts in Odessa, Montreal, and New York City. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1931, Margolis became involved with the Works Progress Administration (WPA), contributing to public mural projects aimed at inspiring communities during the Great Depression. His most celebrated work is a series of murals at Bellevue Hospital in New York, where he depicted themes of labor, healing, and social progress. His style combined realism with symbolic storytelling, often highlighting the human spirit in challenging times. Even late in life, Margolis remained dedicated to art, helping restore his own murals decades after they had been forgotten.