Philip Guston was one of the more well-known post office muralists. His painting, The Monument, is a staple in many modern art history textbooks and can be viewed online (along with many of his other works) at the Tate’s website. Guston’s work was in the spotlight this year as a scheduled traveling exhibited was halted for the pandemic, and then scrutinized over Guston’s frequent depiction of Klansmen as cute, dopey looking cartoon-like figures going about their daily lives (not engaged in typical KK activity). One need only read a bit about Guston to know that he was not a sympathizer. Personally, I think he paints KKK members as sad jokes — pathetic wastes of human life — and draws attention to the fact that anyone could be a Klansmen hidden in plain sight. A Klansman is a Klansman whether he is driving around in a car smoking cigarettes or committing acts of terrorism.

Guston created one post office mural: Early Mail Service and Construction of the Railroads (Commerce, Georgia).