JTA — A federal building in Washington DC known for its murals crafted by important Jewish artists is at risk of demolition.

Now, activists are calling on New York City’s Jewish Museum for support to prevent the sale — and possible destruction — of the Wilbur J. Cohen Building.

The Jewish Museum recently concluded a retrospective of one artist whose work appears in the building, Ben Shahn.

In a letter to Jewish Museum leadership, artist-activists asked for support, citing US President Donald Trump’s previous destruction of artistic landmarks as a real estate developer in New York City and a broader, nationwide record of preservation failures in the past.

“The United States has a woeful record of respecting, preserving, and restoring its public art, especially compared with older and less wealthy countries,” the letter said. It added, “We’d like to ask you to join in calling for a halt to the sale and destruction of this landmark building and its inspirational art.”

The letter was spearheaded by a trio of Jewish artists — Elise Engler, Joyce Kozloff and Martha Rosler — and currently has more than 300 signatures. Another petition aiming to preserve the building was launched in November, led by a group called the Living New Deal.

The latest attempt to save the New Deal-era artwork from the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building in Washington, D.C., involves a letter written by a group of artists urging the Jewish Museum in New York to save the murals and sculptural reliefs created by Jewish artists like Ben… pic.twitter.com/wrT7uKc32b

— ARTnews (@artnews) January 26, 2026

The Jewish Museum has expressed sympathy to the cause but not said whether or how it........

© The Times of Israel