Nicholas Acampora

Nicholas Acampora was active as a documentarian and renderer for the Index of American Design (IAD) between 1935 and 1937. The IAD was a significant program established under the Federal Art Project during the Great Depression, tasked with preserving a visual record of American decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts.

Acampora’s body of documented work focuses primarily on historical material culture, providing precise visual records of domestic objects and artifacts. Fifteen works associated with the Index are attributed to the artist, demonstrating a commitment to detailed representation required by the federal project.

Five documented renderings are represented in major museum collections, including the study of a Coffee Pot, a detailed illustration of a Hoop, and the rendering of a Horse Weather Vane. Other notable subjects include a Toleware Coffee Pot and a design study of Wallpaper. These records of American craftsmanship are preserved within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the context of the IAD, reproductions of Nicholas Acampora prints are frequently accessible for educational purposes. Much of this documentation, held by institutions, resides today in the public domain, making high-quality prints available to researchers globally.