Bisby Finley

Bisby Finley was active as an artist and documentarian during a focused period between 1936 and 1940. This tenure places Finley among the creators associated with Federal Art Project initiatives, specifically contributing to the Index of American Design (IAD), a comprehensive visual survey of historical American decorative and folk arts.

Finley’s surviving body of work consists of eight documented designs represented in museum collections. These studies focused on precisely rendering artifacts and objects, providing accurate visual records for research and preservation. The objective nature of the work emphasized the form and detail of Americana rather than subjective artistic interpretation. The subjects documented span domestic history and folk crafts, with specific examples in the database including Cigar Store Indian, Bishop Hill: Copper Skillet, Pottery Jug, and Pottery Jar.

As historically significant design documentation, these works served as crucial visual records, providing access to public domain resources for historians and contemporary designers alike. The importance of Finley's documentation is affirmed by the inclusion of their original drawings and watercolor renderings in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The availability of high-quality prints derived from these collections ensures the continued study of American craft history.