Frank Budash

Frank Budash was an American artist active primarily during the Depression era, working from 1935 to 1941. His career was centered around the Index of American Design (IAD), a comprehensive project established under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to document historical American decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts.

Budash’s contributions to the IAD consist of precise, highly detailed renderings designed to create an accurate visual record of early American craft objects. His documented subjects range across domestic and functional items, including studies of folk carvings, glass, and household artifacts. Notable works held in museum collections include the documentations Dachshund, Toy Horse, and the detailed study Whittled Bowl with Lid: "Hen on Nest". He also produced technical studies, such as the renderings of the Tumbler and the Medicine Bottle.

Frank Budash prints are represented in major institutional holdings, establishing the artistic credibility of the documentary work. His catalog of IAD studies is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because these archival renderings were created as part of a federal project, the resulting imagery often resides in the public domain, allowing these historical works to be reproduced as high-quality prints or downloadable artwork.