ACLU Art Collection

The ACLU Art Collection comprises more than 70 works of art housed in the American Civil Liberties Union’s Headquarters in New York City. Art was introduced to the space to inspire and engage the staff, visitors, members, activists, and supporters of the ACLU’s mission that work across our three floors each day, defending America’s core liberties for all individuals. The artists and creators who have contributed to the collection represent the voices of the communities we serve as well as the ACLU’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Artworks were selected based on 17 themes reflective of the ACLU’s mission to defend and preserve the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and US law. The most important goal achieved by this collection was the curation of art selections that honor the communities that we serve, celebrate past and present leaders in matters of civil rights, and celebrate our mission and impact.

We also built the collection by supporting projects and commissioning works from organizations whose missions stand in line with the ACLU’s such as: Artolution, Art Enables, Fountain House Gallery, Gender Portraits, Frontline Arts, DRAWdown Design Project, and the Heliotrope Foundation.

So many works, artists, and organizations beyond those highlighted here came together to strengthen this collection in its ability to speak to the themes embodied by this more than 100-year-old institution and to use art as a gateway for education, advocacy, and celebration.